Holding back the flood at Cheboygan Dam

Posted on by farlane
Cheboygan Dam by MSP Emergency Management & Homeland Security Division

Cheboygan Dam by MSP Emergency Management & Homeland Security Division

Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula are absolutely drowning in floodwater. One place that is very apparent is Cheboygan, where Gov Whitmer declared a State of Emergency on Friday due to rising water levels at the Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex.

I’ve been following this over the weekend and the level of all hands on deck activity is pretty incredible, certainly a testament to lessons learned by the collapse of the Edenfield & Sanford Dams six years ago. Michigan Department of Transportation has closed the US-23 bascule bridge in Cheboygan near the dam by raising its deck to the open position. The foundation of the bridge (built in 1940) is susceptible to erosion during flood events. Traffic is being detoured to the Lincoln Avenue Bridge, and residents are urged to follow the Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Department for the latest updates.

There’s more photos of efforts at the dam below along with an absolutely wild video from the dam shared a couple of days ago by Michigan Storm Chasers on YouTube.

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon

Is it Spring in Michigan? That depends on where you live…

Posted on by farlane
Melting by smiles7

Melting by smiles7

mLive’s Mark Torregrossa shares that Michigan’s northern & southern halves will have completely different temperature patterns this week (see the NOAA temperature graphic for Thursday below):

For southern Michigan, we have three spring-like days and four almost-wintry days. For northern Michigan, we have a slight taste of spring temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday, with the rest of the days more like winter. It looks much warmer in the first week of April.

Julie took this shot of the Mighty Mac back in April of 2021. Here’s a photo of the ice at Tahquamenon Falls breaking free that she shared 10 years ago plus a shot of a classic spring skiing slush pond from the other day. Follow her on Flickr for the latest!

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon

Great moments in Michigan Equinox history

Posted on by farlane
Day 188/365 "Equinox" by PhotoLab507

Day 188/365 “Equinox” by PhotoLab507

Spring officially begins today with the vernal equinox at 10:46am, and the statewide forecast from NOAA looks like it will more or less cooperate with highs in the 60s in southern Michigan and the entire state expected to top freezing today – a welcome respite!

The photographer shared this way back in 2008, writing “MOMENTS after I took this shot, I balanced this egg on this nail. Unfortunately I didn’t “catch” that event but here is the lead-up to it. So, an egg CAN balance on the head of a nail on spring equinox.” So close!! For sure follow them on Flickr for the latest!

There’s lots more science on Michigan in Pictures, but to be strictly scientific, the equinox has no measurable effect on your ability to balance an egg! With that said, would love to see your egg balancing photos!!

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon

Bring on the Spring!

Posted on by farlane
Crocus by Bill Dolak

Crocus by Bill Dolak

“In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.” -Mark Twain

Tomorrow morning our seasonal window moves from winter to spring regardless of what the weather decides to do.

I am a firm vote for “Spring stuff” aka flowers, baby animals, duckies, etc, but to prepare you for whatever lies ahead, here are some flowers just minding their own business from Bill. See more in his massive Flowers gallery on Flickr & follow Bill’s Pictures on Facebook for his latest!

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon

Cherry Blossoms behind schedule in 2025

Posted on by farlane
Cherry Blossom Time by Mark Smith

Cherry Blossom Time by Mark Smith

While a lot of cherries in the lower half of the Lower Peninsula have already bloomed, cherry blossoms in Michigan’s Cherry Capital of Northwest Lower Michigan are just getting going!

Mark Smith shared the first picture below with me last Thursday from the western side of the Leelanau Peninsula along with a couple recent pics & several more from years past. Cherry blossoms should be great up there for a few weeks at least – follow Leelanau.com for the latest and for sure check out Mark’s Leelanau Landscapes website to view & purchase his work!

More cherries & cherry blossoms on Michigan in Pictures!

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon

Happy 55th Earth Day, Michigan!

Posted on by farlane
Happy Earth Day by Paul Bruce

Happy Earth Day by Paul Bruce

Today is the 55th Earth Day, and this holiday that is celebrated across the planet was born right here in Michigan! I hope that you are able to take a little time today or this week to think about how you and your family, friends & neighbors can help create a future where humans live in harmony with the world around us because it really is the only one we’ve got. 🌏✌️💙

Paul took these at the Reid Lake Foot Travel Area near Harrison in the Huron-Manistee National Forest in the northeast Lower Peninsula. The US Forest Service says the 3000-acre area includes 13 miles of gently rolling trail around Reid and Little Trout Lakes, the shoreline of Big Marsh, and views of Fanny’s Marsh and Mossy Bog. There are also 9 designated first-come first-serve campsites available. Check out his photos from last Earth Day & many more in his Reid Lake gallery and for sure follow him on Flickr for more!

Many more Earth Day photos on Michigan in Pictures!

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon

Dreaming of Spring, Living in Winter

Posted on by farlane
1052 by paulh192

1052 by paulh192

“It is always safe to dream of spring. For it is sure to come; and if it be not just as we have pictured it, it will be infinitely sweeter.” ― L.M. Montgomery

Paul has been a member of the Absolute Michigan group on Flickr for a long time. He shared this incredible photo from May 2024 that makes me long for spring a few weeks ago. He took it in , so in the interests of being seasonally balanced, here’s one of his most popular photos on Flickr from way back in 2013 at the Grand Haven Lighthouse. Head over to his Flickr for lots more!

Grand Haven State Park Lighthouse by paulh192

Grand Haven State Park Lighthouse by paulh192

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon

May 7, 2024 Kalamazoo Tornado

Posted on by farlane

Kalamazoo Tornado by Lori Higgins

Early last night, the Kalamazoo/Portage area was rocked by tornadoes:

The storms rolled through around 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., causing thousands to lose power. Some of the heaviest damage was concentrated around Westnedge Avenue, Centre Avenue and Oakland Drive, according to Portage city officials.

The FedEx building at 6701 Portage Road sustained a direct hit from one of the reported tornadoes. The roof of the building caved in, leaving the interior exposed. After the storm passed, 50 employees were trapped inside as crews worked to remove dangerous wires so rescue efforts could commence. First responders eventually helped them all out of the building, Tuesday night.

Another spot with major damage was Pavilion Estates Mobile Home Park, 6830 East N Ave. in Pavilion Township, just east of Portage. About 17 of the homes were totally demolished and 173 had some degree of damage, according to the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office.

Click through for more from mLive. Lori’s photo was shared far & wide including by Michigan Native Photography who shared a bunch of photos (by other photographers) of the damage. Stay safe everyone and LISTEN to the weather forecasters when they tell you to beware. Turns out they can be right a lot of the time!!

More Michigan tornados on Michigan in Pictures.

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon

Blossom Patrol!

Posted on by farlane

Sweet Cherries in Bloom by Bardenhagen Berries Farm

via Leelanau.com…

The Bardenhagen Berries Farm shares: The sweet cherries 🍒 are in full bloom & it’s a beautiful 🤩 sight all around! What a beautiful day! Strawberries 🍓 usually start blooming around a week or so after cherries. All things considered, this past winter was reported as the warmest on record- and there is a very good chance many fruit crops (assuming they don’t get frosted out) will be a week or more earlier than usual. Follow along right here for updates on the 2024 growing season!

Click to see more photos & visit their website at bardenhagenberries.com!

Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures…

Posted on by farlane
I Spy You Both by Julie

I Spy You Both……. by smiles7

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”
-Albert Einstein

Julie shared this photo back in April of 2021, but I wanted to make sure everybody saw these sweet little fox babies. She has more great photos of these foxes & others having fun on Flickr.

Have a great weekend everyone, and if you have an extra dollar or three & enjoy Michigan in Pictures, consider clicking the Patreon button below to help me reach my current goal, an asiago bacon croissant at Cannelle Detroit! 😋

Support Michigan in Pictures with Patreon