LIVE UPDATES
Live updates: Cheboygan County Sheriff says to prepare for possible evacuation
What you need to know
Early Monday morning, the Cheboygan County Sheriff's Office said in a social media post that water levels at the Cheboygan Dam and Lock Complex have reached 12 inches from reaching the top, activating the county's "ready" phase of its safety plan. The "ready" phase asks people to prepare a go-bag and compile important documents, medications and to review your family plan. People are also being asked to avoid riverbanks and low-lying areas.
"Ready, set, go" safety plan
- Ready (phase 1): When water is 12 inches below the top of the dam with levels rising 3 inches a day or more. Plan and/or pack in the event an evacuation becomes necessary.
- Set (phase 2): When water reaches 6 inches below the top of the dam, with water levels rising at a rate of 3 inches per day or levels rising 3 inches per day and predicted to top the dam within 48 hours. Prepare by packing and preparing your family, pets and vehicle for potential departure.
- Go (phase 3): When water levels are 1 inch below the top of the dam with a high probability of topping it, with the potential for failure occurring. Follow evacuation orders; roadblocks may be installed around the perimeters.
“If we get to evacuation stage, I will send out IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert Warning System) messages, which is the wireless alert system,” Cheboygan County Emergency Manager Jeremy Runstrom told WCMU. "[This] will target all the areas that will be affected by raising water levels.”
The Cheboygan County Emergency Management Office and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources are also encouraging people to:
- Sign up for Be-Alert notifications
- Follow the local social media pages
- Ensure Wireless Emergency Alerts are enabled on their mobile devices
- Call 211 for information about preparedness and potential evacuation
- Check for the latest up-to-date information on the dam and lock complex on the state of Michigan's website
State removes dam gates to increase water flow
The Michigan State Police said in a social media post that a large crane was brought to the Cheboygan Dam and Lock Complex to remove gates at the dam "in an effort to increase water flow and manage rising water levels."
Crews continue to work around the clock at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex. Overnight a large crane removed gates at the dam in an effort to increase water flow and manage rising water levels.
— MichEMHS (@MichEMHS) April 13, 2026
👍Follow this page for accurate and up-to-the-minute updates. Look for a link to a… pic.twitter.com/DjKC5tHGd1
Rain expected Monday evening, NWS says
Heavy rain showers are expected to continue Monday morning, according to Nicole Sprinkles, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gaylord. Accumulation is expected to be between 1-2.5 inches.
“We're seeing some models even throw in some totals of upwards of 3 inches,” Sprinkles said. “As we move into Monday, it does start to look like we might actually have a bit of a lull in the actual shower activity… But then again, Monday night, it just comes brewing back up.”
Sprinkles added that overnight lows are not expected to drop below freezing for most of northern Michigan this week and will likely lead to more snow melting across the region.
The highs for the area are expected to be in the low to mid 50s. Portions of eastern upper and northern lower Michigan are under flood warning throughout the week.
The area near the dam is under warning until Sunday.
US-23 bridge in Cheboygan closes
The U.S. 23 bridge in Cheboygan will be closed Monday due to rising water levels at the Cheboygan Dam and Lock Complex, the Michigan Department of Transportation announced in a news release.
MDOT officials say the closure will keep pedestrians safe from potential damage from the debris flowing down the Cheboygan River.
Pedestrians and vehicles could be in danger if the Cheboygan Lock and Dam were to fail, due to debris from upstream possibly being caught beneath it.
The bridge will need to be inspected before it can open again, and an operator from the Cheboygan County Road Commission is on site ready to open the bridge if needed.
Traffic will be re-routed south to the Lincoln Avenue Bridge, which is located upstream of the dam. There’s currently no timeline in which the bridge will be re-opened.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for Cheboygan County on Friday, allowing additional state resources into the area to help with flood mitigation and the emergency response. The declaration also makes certain communities eligible for financial assistance from the state.