A powerful storm system swept through Michigan late Tuesday night, prompting tornado warnings, marine alerts, and extensive power outages. The National Weather Service issued urgent tornado warnings for several areas, including Monroe, Allegan, and Otsego. Multiple counties in Michigan are under tornado watch, including Kent, Ingham, Kalamazoo, and Ottawa.
The storm system is expected to bring severe weather, damaging winds, and large hail to Lower Michigan. A flood watch has been issued for a significant portion of the region, with the National Weather Service warning of possible flooding along the Muskegon River and the Grand River basin.
State and local officials are actively monitoring conditions at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex, where rising water levels due to snowmelt and heavy rainfall pose a risk of overtopping the dam and resulting in significant flooding.
Emergency crews are working to alleviate pressure by removing dam gates, installing additional pumps, and restarting a hydroelectric facility. Evacuations are underway in Emmet County due to erosion along South Lakeshore Drive, and road closures have been reported in the area.
The National Weather Service has issued an enhanced risk for severe storms in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula, with a slight risk in the central region and a marginal risk in the northern tip. A separate warning has been issued for the Portage River near Vicksburg and the Muskegon River at Evart.
