Flood Warning Issued for Saint Joseph River in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana has issued a Flood Warning for the Saint Joseph River Michigan at Three Rivers. This alert follows expected thunderstorms and widespread rainfall moving across the region overnight, which are forecast to cause river levels to rise into minor flood stages.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically affects the following regions:

• Indiana: Elkhart County (including the city of Elkhart).
• Michigan: Branch and St. Joseph counties (including Three Rivers, Mottville, South Bend, and Niles).
• Ohio: The alert also notes impacts for the Tiffin River at Stryker, affecting Williams, Fulton, and Defiance counties.

What You Should Do

Residents and motorists are advised to follow the safety rule: “Turn around, don’t drown” when encountering flooded roads. Most flood-related deaths occur in vehicles. Residents should avoid flooded areas and monitor local river forecasts for updates. The next official statement is expected Wednesday afternoon.

Expected Conditions

Minor flooding is forecast for the Saint Joseph River. As of 8:45 PM EDT Tuesday, the river stage was 6.9 feet. The river is expected to rise above the flood stage of 7.0 feet early Wednesday afternoon, reaching a crest of 7.3 feet by Friday evening. At a stage of 7.0 feet, minor flooding of the Scidmore Park picnic facilities in Three Rivers is expected.

Timeline

The Flood Warning is effective from Wednesday afternoon, March 11, 2026, until Sunday evening, March 15, 2026, at 8:00 PM EDT. The river is currently forecast to fall below flood stage by Saturday evening.