Extreme rain on snow is testing aging dams across Michigan and Wisconsin—this is the future in a warming world

Michigan and parts of Wisconsin are in the midst of a historic flood in spring 2026. Days of heavy rain and snow have caused lakes and rivers to overflow and threaten several dams in both states, forcing people to evacuate their homes downstream. On April 20, 2026, nearly half of Michigan’s counties were in a state of emergency. In Cheboygan, Michigan, large pumps were installed to reduce pressure on a century-old dam in the city.