Storms Lash West Michigan, More Rain On The Way
- Jake Watson
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
CEDAR SPRINGS - Cedar Springs and nearby communities are drying out and cleaning up after Tuesday night’s severe storms brought destructive winds, flooding, and heavy rain, with another round of storms expected before conditions begin to improve this weekend.
Wind gusts near 80 mph ripped through parts of West Michigan Tuesday night, downing limbs and scattering debris across neighborhoods in and around Cedar Springs. Standing water lingered through midweek as already saturated ground struggled to absorb nearly continuous rainfall.
Closer to home, area creeks pushed beyond their banks. Cedar Creek in Cedar Springs, Nash Creek in Sparta, and Ball Creek in Kent City all experienced partial flooding, sending water into low lying yards and fields and soaking parks and natural areas that line the waterways.
Another storm system is expected to move through West Michigan tonight into early Saturday. Forecasters say there is a low risk for strong to severe storms, but damaging winds and large hail remain the main threats.
A low pressure system will move into the area between 11 p.m. and 9 a.m. Friday night into Saturday morning, with the heaviest rain expected from midnight to 4 a.m. The system is forecast to bring just over an inch of additional rain, which will fall on already saturated ground and keep local flooding a concern. Rivers, including the Muskegon River, are expected to crest over the next 48 hours.
In a statement sent to The Bugle this week, Consumers Energy said its 13 hydroelectric dams continue to operate safely despite surging rivers and flooding across the state. The company said it is closely monitoring water levels while assuring customers that the dams are serving Michigan safely and reliably.
One of the longer term concerns around the West Michigan area is the impact on farmers who are waiting for fields to dry out so they can begin spring work.
The Bugle spoke with local farmer Dave Johnson, who said the repeated rounds of rain have kept equipment idle.
“I bought a new disk for this season, and it's just sitting along with the tractor. Nothing is moving because the ground is way too wet and there is more rain coming,” Johnson said. “That is just farming, I guess. You wait for the fields to be ready and work on other things to make sure you are good to go when the time is right.”
The good news, forecasters say, is that after this system moves through in the next 48 hours, conditions should begin to settle down, bringing some much needed relief to Cedar Springs and surrounding communities that have spent the week drying out basements and watching the creeks rise.
