The damage to parts of Northern Michigan following the weekend’s historic ice storm is nothing short of catastrophic, according to a state official. The massive amount of damage and the long-lasting effects of this storm rise to the level of a catastrophe,

Counties there can expect between 1-2 inches of snow on Wednesday before it transitions to rain, according to the National Weather Service station in Gaylord. Additional icing appears less likely, although strong winds up to 40 mph could knock down more trees and branches that were previously compromised by the icing, the weather service said.

Downed trees and power lines after an ice storm in northern Michigan have led to the closure of several state parks in the region.

Schools across Northern Michigan are shutting their doors for the remainder of the week as communities grapple with the lingering impacts of this week’s devastating ice storms.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has postponed a speech planned for Thursday in Washington, D.C. to respond to storm cleanup in northern Michigan.

Following a string of ice storms which tore through the northern Lower Peninsula over the weekend, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is expanding her initial state of emergency and deploying the Michigan National Guard to help clear roadways and areas overcome by debris.