A dirt truck plows through water, passing by two cars rendered unreachable by tow trucks after driving too deep into the the flooded South Averill Avenue caused by heavy overnight rainfall on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2018 in Flint. Jake May | MLive.com

Don't Edit

By Tanda Gmiter | tgmiter@mlive.com

The rain may have stopped, but widespread flooding across the Lower Peninsula will remain in some areas, at least through early next week.

It's rare to have heavy rains in February like we did Monday through Wednesday, the National Weather Service said in a forecast update.

Add to that the unseasonably warm temperatures earlier this week that melted our snow and the frost in the ground, and you've got a lot of water looking for someplace to go.

Evacuations have been underway along the Muskegon River in Newaygo County, and along the Rifle River in Arenac County, where an ice jam caused flooding.

The Lansing area has declared a state of emergency.

While most small creeks and streams have already reached their highest point and their levels are falling, major waterways like the Grand River will continue to rise in spots through early next week, the NWS said.

The Grand is expected to crest just below record levels tonight in Lansing, and top out also just below record levels in Grand Rapids on Saturday. The last of the Grand's crest will push west to Grand Haven and into Lake Michigan on Monday, the NWS predicted.

In West Michigan, conditions match the 2013 spring flood.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Water levels rise along Buck Creek at Creekside Estates and Lodge in Wyoming, Mich., on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

Small streams

Most small creeks and streams have already reached their high point, and have drained into larger rivers by today.

Don't Edit

Most of the Lower Peninsula saw heavy rain from Monday into Wednesday - a rare February deluge that caused part of this flooding problem.

Other factors include the large amount of melting snow because of the quick warm-up, and frost in the ground being released as water.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

The rising Grand River is shown near Comstock Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (Casey Sykes | MLive.com)

Michigan's only Major Flooding zone is Comstock Park

Every time the Grand River rises, Comstock Park north of Grand Rapids becomes a pinch point. Evacuations are the seasonal norm in high-water years. This year is no different. This area is the only Major Flooding zone in the state this week, the National Weather Service said.

Don't Edit

Water covers the road on Willow Drive NE, which runs along the Grand River, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (Casey Sykes | MLive.com)

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Flooding on Michigan State University from the Red Cedar River in East Lansing, Mich. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018.

Lansing and East Lansing: Evacuations, State of Emergency

Flooding in the Lansing area will reach levels not seen since 1975, the National Weather Service said. The Red Cedar River in East Lansing and the Grand River where it flows through Lansing will reach their peaks Thursday night.

On Wednesday, Lansing city officials began outlining neighborhood evacuations. By Wednesday night, a state of emergency was declared by Lansing Mayor Andy Schor and Lansing Township Supervisor Diontrae Hayes. People in affected areas are expected to leave their homes by noon on Thursday.

Some classes at Michigan State University have been relocated, and some areas on campus near the river have been closed off.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

The Flint River overflows onto artist renderings along what is normally a walkway as heavy rain causes flooding on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2018 in Flint. Jake May | MLive.com