Weather

Water is now 18 inches from reaching the top, according to the Michigan State Police. If they reach 12 inches, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says it will begin executing an emergency plan that will likely involved evacuations.

The DNR said it was "working with local officials to manage the situation." In addition, they say plans are in place if high water conditions continue.

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service said the Saginaw River will fall below its flood stage Wednesday at the earliest as roads close across the region due to flooding.

It's been a year since the devastating ice storm. Poles and wires have since been replaced, but some residents wonder whether it makes more sense to bury them out of the reach of increasingly damaging snow, wind and ice.

A key Doppler radar in Grand Rapids was down Monday afternoon as storms were expected overnight and severe weather chances increased Tuesday across parts of Michigan.

The National Weather Service reports that some areas of the Upper Peninsula received up 4 feet of snow.

Blizzard conditions and heavy ice accumulation have downed trees and powerlines in some northern lower Michigan counties.

An ice storm warning expanded to 10 counties in northern Michigan. The Presque Isle County Sheriff's Office warned people to stay off roads.

The National Weather Service says snow totals up to 4 feet are possible in some areas in the Upper Peninsula. Meanwhile, ice precipitation is possible for the northern Lower Peninsula.

Months of dry conditions are turning into a normal spring with forecasted rainfall, according to the USDA.