Due to ice jams on the Muskegon River between Newaygo and Bridgeton, river levels near Newaygo have climbed to flood stage. A flood warning has been issued for the Newaygo area.
Bridge Street Bridge (new bridge) in the City of Newaygo is CLOSED. Please use an alternate route.
Newaygo City Parks, River Front Park Phase 1 and Phase 2 will also be closing due to the high water.
Rapid fluctuations in river levels remain possible due to ice jams. River levels and flood impacts may vary locally upriver and downriver compared to what the river gauge is reading. Residents have been instructed to be alert to changing conditions along the river and prepare for the possibility of flooding.
UPDATE: Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 830am
There are now 17 miles miles or more of jumbled up ice clogging the river channel both up stream and downstream from the Warner Bridge and Bridgeton Township Boat Launch to the City of Newaygo. River levels at Newaygo are above flood stage at 14.5 feet. River levels at Bridgeton remain just at 13.04 feet. Both locations have risen approximately 6 - 7 feet due to the ice jam.
It is expected the river will continue to freeze up until Saturday when temperatures climb into the 30s. Temperatures are forecasted to reach above 40 degrees with rain likely on Sunday and Monday. Current guidance suggest river levels will slowly drop before Sunday as the ice begins to break apart. Snow melt and rainfall Sunday into Monday will cause river levels to remain high into early next week. As additional guidance becomes available, I will update everyone.