After driving in the rain a couple times and then inspecting the metal channel, I think I agree with the guys that believe the 2 gaps in the metal channel should be sealed with something. Since I've dried out my channel and sealed the two gaps at the front and rear lower channel areas, no water has since intruded the channel area. When I first inspected the channel, I initially noticed that the vertical sections of the channel were never wet (except an inch or so up from the gaps in the channel), yet the lower section seemed to have water in it whenever the car got wet. The only place where water can get in between the channel and foam (as far as I can tell) are those two gaps in the channel. I'm going to leave the gaps sealed with silicone sealer and inspect it a couple times over the winter to see how it goes...