(WWJ) – All of Metro Detroit was under both a Tornado Watch and a Flood Watch Wednesday evening as a storm system tracked across the region, causing treacherous conditions on roadways across the area.
The Tornado Watch was issued just before 9 p.m., lasting until 3 a.m. The National Weather Service says a "couple tornadoes" are possible and winds could reach as high as 65 mph.
The Tornado Watch, which extends into parts of Indiana and Ohio, covers an estimated 7.2 million people, according to the NWS.
The Michigan State Police are offering advice on what to do during a Tornado Watch, including safety precautions before and during a tornado, as well as what to do after one hits.
Part of southbound I-75 in Detroit was closed at Schaefer due to an overturned semi-truck at Outer Drive for more than two hours. The freeway was back open around 10 p.m.
It was not immediately clear what happened in the moments leading up to the crash or whether anyone was injured.
There were several other crashes across Metro Detroit freeways, including northbound I-75 near McNichols and one on I-94 at 10 Mile in Macomb County. No instances of flooding on roadways had been reported as of 8:15 p.m.
MSP officials are reminding drivers to slow down in the wet conditions, noting "risky driving behaviors are made even worse by weather conditions."
The Flood Watch is in effect for Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, Washtenaw and St. Clair Counties until 4 a.m. Thursday.
Several other surrounding counties are also under the Flood Watch, while 12 counties in West Michigan are also under a Watch until late Wednesday night.
The NWS says rivers, creeks and streams may rise out of their banks and flooding may occur in other poor drainage and urban areas.
A pattern of thunderstorms was expected to move into the area late Wednesday afternoon and the NWS says the organized storms and parent low pressure system are “capable of heavy rainfall and flooding across the watch area."
The NWS says 1-3 inches of rain is possible, with the heaviest rain most likely to come between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., though it will mostly taper off after midnight.
Some areas may see localized higher amounts of rain if stronger thunderstorms persist, the NWS says.
Officials are warning drivers to avoid flooded roadways. The NWS says "turn around, don't drown."
Winds of up to 60 mph are possible as the storm system makes its way across the area, which is expected to move from west to east at about 25-30 mph, according to the NWS.
Wednesday’s severe weather comes a day after high winds swept across Metro Detroit, leaving thousands of people without power Wednesday morning.
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