Rising river levels and shifting river ice possible by this weekend... Significant snowmelt and additional rain will occur across Southern lower Michigan over the next few days. This will create a sloppy mess in many areas, as clogged or frozen storm drains may prevent water drainage from roads. As this water eventually finds its way into our rivers, we`ll see noteworthy rises on the smaller streams and even on some of the bigger rivers. This will be especially true along the Grand River and the tributaries that flow into the Grand River around the Lansing area. Currently, we are expecting water levels on the Red Cedar, Looking Glass, and Maple Rivers to rise to bankfull, and may even approach minor flood levels this weekend. By early next week, this water will be moving down the Grand River and may cause bankfull conditions around Comstock Park. The cold snap last week resulted in ice coverage on parts of the Grand River, but this ice is weakening steadily with warmer temperatures and light rain. This ice may start to shift and move as the water starts to rise this weekend. While this creates a risk for ice jams, the current threat level for this remains fairly low since the ice never got very thick and is already losing considerable strength. However, now is a good time to look around your hard, collect loose items, and prepare for the upcoming rising water levels. This outlook means that elevated water levels and potential impacts are possible, but not yet certain. Persons with interests along area rivers should closely monitor the latest forecasts. This statement will be updated by Thursday afternoon, January 25, 2024