It may be hard to imagine it’s February after this week’s record-breaking high temperatures and rainfall in the Lower Peninsula.
In Grand Rapids, it peaked at 63 degrees — breaking the previous record of 61 degrees set in 1930.
West Michigan isn’t the only warm spot in the region. The remarkable warmth has been felt across the eastern half of the country. In Zanesville, Ohio, temperatures hit a record 78 degrees.
Photo: High temperatures recorded on Feb. 20, 2018.
The warm February temperatures didn’t last long in West Michigan. As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, the 24-hour temperature signals the return of a colder air mass.
Photo: The 24 hour temperature change as of 8 a.m. Wednesday.
As West Michigan bids farewell to the warm temperatures, many communities will be coping with aftermath of record rainfall. In Grand Rapids, 27 of 31 hours recorded measurable rain. It broke the previous record of 2.53 inches of rain set back in 1898.
Photo: The two-day estimated rainfall in West Michigan.Photo: The two-day rainfall totals for the major cities across West Michigan.
West Michigan wasn’t the only place to experience heavy rainfall. Northern Indiana received as much as four to six inches of rain.
Photo: The 48 hour rainfall estimates throughout the Midwest and Mississippi River Valley.
Flood advisories and warnings have been issued for all West Michigan until Thursday morning.
Map: Flood warnings and advisories across the eastern portion of the United States as of Wednesday morning.Map: Flood warnings continues across West Michigan until 7 a.m. Thursday.
More than 30 individual flood warnings have been issued for rivers across West Michigan.
Map: River flood warnings throughout southern Michigan.
As of Wednesday morning, the only location along the Grand River projected to go into the “major flooding” category is Comstock Park, which will likely peak Saturday.
Photo: The forecasted levels of the Grand River in Comstock Park.
It appears Wednesday and Thursday will be dry with the next chance of rain coming Friday. In most cases, the rain should be light.
Map: The European model rainfall forecast for Friday.
There is another chance of rain this weekend when a storm system possible moving through West Michigan, but the track is still uncertain.
Tune into 24 Hour News 8 through the day and check back with woodtv.com for weather updates.
Twenty years ago, Dale Earnhardt Sr. won his only Daytona 500. Austin Dillon was just 7 years old. Twenty years later, Dillon claimed the Great American Race in Earnhardt's No. 3.
The 27-year-old Dillon won the 60th running of the Daytona 500 in overtime on Sunday after spinning and passing Aric Almirola on the final lap. It's the second win of Dillon's career and means he will be heading back to the playoffs to compete for a NASCAR championship later this season.
The field was running single file with 10 laps to go as Ryan Blaney continued to pace the field after leading over 100 laps when William Byron went spinning near the start-finish line to bring out the caution and set up the finish.
On the restart, Blaney shuffled the lead with Denny Hamlin and 2017 Daytona 500 winner Kurt Busch before the big one came down. It appeared that Blaney got into the rear bumper of Busch, sending him into a tailspin and taking him out along with pole-starter Alex Bowman, Matt DiBenedetto, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ryan Newman and 2017 Cup champ Martin Truex Jr. The massive wreck sent the race into overtime.
Hamlin led the field to green in overtime but was passed by Almirola on the backstretch. Coming to the checkered flag Dillon got into the back of Almirola and spun him en route to the finish line.
2018 Daytona 500 results
Austin Dillon
Darrell Wallace Jr.
Denny Hamlin
Joey Logano
Chris Buescher
Paul Menard
Ryan Blaney
Ryan Newman
Michael McDowell
AJ Allmendinger
Aric Almirola
Justin Marks
Trevor Bayne
David Gilliland
Clint Bowyer
Jamie McMurray
Alex Bowman
Martin Truex Jr.
Kyle Larson
Gray Gaulding
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Mark Thompson
William Byron
DJ Kennington
Kyle Busch
Kurt Busch
Matt DiBenedetto
Brendan Gaughan
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
David Ragan
Kevin Harvick
Brad Keselowski
Chase Elliott
Kasey Kahne
Danica Patrick
Erik Jones
Daniel Suarez
Jimmie Johnson
Ty Dillon
Corey LaJoie
Stage 1: Kurt Busch wins as multiple playoff drivers wreck
Kurt Busch led most of the laps throughout the first stage of the race and it continued on Lap 60 as a big wreck emerged behind him and Alex Bowman.
2017 Rookie of the Year Erik Jones got loose looking to make a pass on the final lap of the stage and took a host of other cars with him into the wall, including 7-time series champion Jimmie Johnson.
Big wreck in Stage 2
Late in the second stage, Chase Elliott went spinning on the backstretch and absolutely totaled his car, taking out Danica Patrick, Kasey Kahne, Michael McDowell, David Ragan and Vegas favorite Brad Keselowski in the process. Kevin Harvick also took on a considerable amount of damage in the wreck.
For Patrick, the wreck was career-ending. The Daytona 500 was the final NASCAR race of Patrick's career. Over five seasons, Patrick earned seven top-10 finishes and one pole coming during the 2013 edition of the Great American Race. The 35-year-old is the first woman to lead laps under green in the Cup Series as well as lead a lap and qualify on the pole.
"The guys -- the whole team -- did a really good job. I know we pulled this together not that long ago - a month ago - that's a tall order to get a car ready for a superspeedway that's competitive. But it was. I said earlier today that I feel like the whole thing was picture perfect with GoDaddy on the car and it being that green again," Patrick said. "But it just wasn't meant to be today. But I am proud - we raced the whole race -- other than a little bit at the end of that first stage when I just looked silly with all the cars with no tires and tires. Other than that, we raced it. It was competitive. That's all you can do. That's the gamble about Daytona."
Harvick attempted to come back on the track after the wreck, but timed out on pit road and is done for the day. Later on in the stage Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spewed steam out of his car but was able to bring it down pit road and get back out on the track.
Read More:2018 Daytona 500 results, leaderboard, winner: Austin Dillon takes the crown in OT - CBSSports.com
President Donald Trump spoke of sorrow in a news conference Thursday, hours before a 19-year-old suspect was charged in connection to a mass shooting that killed 17 at a high school in one of the safest cities in Florida. Trump spoke briefly about the violence at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL where Nikolas Cruz allegedly shot and killed students and faculty.
"Yesterday a school filled with innocent students and teachers became the scene of terrible violence and evil," Trump said.
"To every parent, teacher and child who is hurting so badly: we are here for you, whatever you need, whatever we can do to ease your pain," Trump said.
He also said the administration is working closely with authorities to investigate the shooting, and said they are going to look at what they can do to address mental health.
Trump addressed children and those who feel "lost, confused or scared: I want you to know that you are never alone and you never will be. You have people who care about you, who love you, and who will do anything at all to protect you."
He encouraged those who need help to turn to a teacher, police officer or faith leader.
"Let us come together as a nation, wipe away the tears and strive for a better tomorrow," he said.
Trump also said he would make school safety a top priority when he meets with governors later this month.
He didn't however address gun control in his brief remarks and ignored a question about it as he left the podium.
Cruz, the suspect and a former student at the high school, made a brief preliminary appearance in court Thursday, and is being held without bond.
He is charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.
Cruz is on suicide watch, according to his attorney.
Cruz's attorney described him as "saddened by the loss of children."
Thursday, Coconut Creek police officer Michael Leonard described apprehending Cruz who was arrested without incident in a residential neighborhood about a mile away from the school.
“He looked like a typical high school student and for a quick moment I thought, ‘Could this be the person? Is this who I need to stop?’ " Leonard said. "Training kicked in, I pulled my vehicle over (and) immediately engaged the suspect. He complied with my commands and was taken into custody without any issues.”
Uber said Thursday, Cruz used the ridesharing service before the shooting.
The company wouldn't answer questions regarding if the Uber driver noticed anything concerning Cruz's behavior or if he was carrying a gun or a large case.
The leader of a separatist group Republic of Florida, Jordan Jereb, said that Cruz was a member and participated in paramilitary drills, but that the group didn't have anything to do with the attack.
The Southern Poverty Law Center, in a 2014 Intelligence Report, described the Republic of Florida "as a would-be militia made up of kids barely old enough to buy guns."
Jereb himself has had trouble with the law, and arrested for trespassing at his old high school in 2014, according to the SPLC. He was also arrested for threatening a member of Gov. Rick Scott's staff in 2016, WTXL reported.
FBI agent-in-charge Robert Lasky said in a news conference Thursday that agents investigated suspicious YouTube comments from someone with the same name as alleged school shooter, Cruz.
"The comment simply said 'I'm going to be a professional school shooter," he said, but there was no specific threat made and they couldn't identify the user beyond that.
Among those killed were an assistant football coach and security guard, who used his last moments to save lives.
The Twitter account for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School football team posted that Aaron Feis and athletic director Chris Hixon were among two of the 17 people who died when a former student attacked their school.
"He selflessly shielded students from the shooter when he was shot. He died a hero and he will forever be in our hearts and memories," the football program said on Twitter.
Feis was rushed to the hospital and underwent surgery, but died from his injuries. The coach's death was confirmed by Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel, the Miami Herald reported.
He graduated from Stoneman Douglas in 1999, and worked mainly with the junior varsity football team. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
Broward County Superintendent Robert Runcie paid tribute to Feis and Hixon: "Unfortunately, those two heroes gave their lives for our kids."
"Everyone loved him. Shame he had to go like this. Always gave his all to making us better. Definitely learned a lot from him," sophomore Douglas lineman Gage Gaynor told the Miami Herald.
Israel knew Feis personally, having coached with him, and Feis coached his kids. He predicted "2,000 kids" will go to Feis' funeral.
"He did it protecting others, I can guarantee that," Israel said.
The Broward Education Foundation has set up a GoFundMe for the victims, which is already halfway toward its goal of $350,000.
In a news conference, Gov. Rick Scott said he wants the legislature in Tallahassee to look into measures keeping weapons from those with mental illnesses.
"How do we make sure that individuals with mental illnesses cannot touch a gun?" he said. He also wants the legislator to address school safety.
"The violence has to stop. We cannot lose another child in this country to violence in a school," Scott said.
Broward County Superintendent Robert Runcie said that family and students are calling for a conversation on "sensible gun control" to combat gun violence.
"Our students are asking for that conversation. I hope we can get it done in this generation. And if we can't, they will," he said.
Runcie also called for more resources in the school district to help those who are mentally ill.
In the deadly school shooting, Cruz, a former student, allegedly set off fire alarms at the school about 10 minutes before dismissal time and then opened fire as students and faculty filed into common areas, thinking it was a drill.
Israel said they believe they know where the gun was purchased.
Orphaned late last year when his mother died from the flu, Cruz was expelled from the school in 2017 for disciplinary reasons. Cruz was abusive toward his ex-girlfriend and fought with her new boyfriend, according to reports.
He allegedly used an AR-15-style weapon to shoot adults and students at the school and was found with several magazines on him.
The gun was purchased legally and police also found a gas mask and grenades, according to Broward Sheriff's Office.
Twelve of the victims were shot inside the building, two were shot outside and one was killed on the road next to the school, Israel said.
Authorities identified Cruz after watching school security video. He was arrested in a nearby neighborhood in Coral Springs, FL.
Stoneman Douglas High School will be closed for the remainder of the week, Runcie said. Counselors will be available for students and teachers beginning Thursday morning.
He said the suspect was enrolled at a school in the school system at the time of the shooting.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the state of Florida is prepared to pay for the funerals of all the deceased victims and pay for counseling for all the survivors.
Deputies responded to the scene after shots were reported around the school’s dismissal time of 3 p.m. ET. Students told media that they heard the fire alarm go off about 10 minutes before school let out.
The students then fled back inside the building as the shooting began, while others ran to nearby businesses.
Responding deputies encountered hundreds of students fleeing the school. Investigators said Cruz had concealed himself in the crowd and was among those running out.
Parents attempted to reach some of their children as police and tactical teams swept through the school, going building to building and clearing each room.
"I am sitting here in my car in this traffic jam just like, 'I wish my car could fly at the moment,'" said Simone Kuffner, whose son Shawn attends the high school.
Lissette Rozenblet told CNN her daughter evacuated to a nearby Walmart along with other students. Some parents said they were scared to call or text their children in case their phones were not on silent, afraid that a noise would alert the gunman to their child's presence.
A freshman at the school who also fled to the Walmart, Geovanni Vilsant, told the Miami Herald he saw at least three bodies on the ground as he fled the first floor of the building where the shooting began.
"There was blood everywhere. They weren't moving," he said.
Teacher Melissa Falkowski told CNN she managed to put 19 students in a closet when the shooting began.
"We got maybe 15 to 20 steps out of the classroom, and we were told we were on 'Code Red,' and we ran back inside to the classroom and got them crouched down on the floor," she said. "And then we moved into the closet, and we were hidden in the closet."
Parkland is a city of about 30,000 people, about 15 miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale, FL. The public high school has an enrollment of 3,158 students and serves grades ninth through 12.
Parkland was named Florida's safest city last year, according to data from Washington-based National Council for Home Safety and Security.
The group said the city had only seven reported violent crimes and 186 property crimes the previous year.
Copyright 2018 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
The Broward County, FL sheriff said 17 people were killed in a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. Twelve of the victims were shot in the school, two were shot outside of the building, one was killed on the road next to the school.
The victims were a mix of adults and students. Two of those shot succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
Sheriff Scott Israel said Nicolas Cruz is in custody. He used an AR-15 style weapon and had multiple magazines on him when he was taken into custody. The 19-year-old former student was expelled from the school for disciplinary reasons.
"This is a terrible day," Israel said. "It's catastrophic."
People were transported to area hospitals with various levels of injuries, and Isreal did not confirm how many were injured, but did say two were in surgery. First responders treated those fleeing the school in triage areas.
Parents are still attempting to reach some of their children as police and tactical teams swept through the school, going building to building and clearing each room.
"I am sitting here in my car in this traffic jam just like, I wish my car could fly at the moment," said Simone Kuffner, whose son Shawn attends the high school.
Students, teachers, and staff streamed out of the school with their hands up in single file lines.
Israel said that the shooter, who was a former student, was both inside and outside the school during the attack.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office said the shooter was arrested without incident about a mile away from the school.
Law enforcement and ambulances scrambled to the scene when shots were reported close to dismissal time, before 3 p.m. ET. Students told local media that they heard the fire alarm go off about 10 minutes before school let out.
The students then fled back inside the building as the shooting began, while others ran to nearby businesses.
Lissette Rozenblet told CNN her daughter evacuated to a nearby Walmart along with other students. Some parents said they were scared to call or text their children in case their phones were not on silent, afraid that a noise would alert the gunman to their child's presence.
A freshman at the school who also fled to the Walmart, Geovanni Vilsant, told the Miami Herald he saw at least three bodies on the ground as he fled the first floor of the building where shooting began.
"There was blood everywhere. They weren't moving," he said.
Melissa Falkowski, a teacher at the school, said she managed to put 19 students in a closet when the shooting began, she told CNN.
"We got maybe 15 to 20 steps out of the classroom and we were told we were on 'Code Red' and we ran back inside to the classroom and got them crouched down on the floor," she said, "and then we moved into the closet and we were hidden in the closet."
Parkland is a city of about 30,000 people, about 15 miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale, FL.
The FBI also is on the scene and investigating.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott said in a tweet that he is aware of the situation.
“I’ve spoken with Broward Sheriff Scott Israel, Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie and FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen regarding Stoneman Douglas High School,” Scott said. “We’ll continue to receive updates from law enforcement.”
The last reported shooting at a middle or high school in the U.S. was only a few weeks ago, on Feb. 1, at the Salvador B. Castro Middle School in downtown Los Angeles, according to the Associated Press.
A 12-year-old girl was arrested on charges of negligent discharge of a firearm on school grounds after a gun she’d brought to school went off, injuring four students.
President Trump issued a statement on Twitter.
The public high school has an enrollment of 3,158 students, and serves grades ninth through 12th.
Sen. Marco Rubio tweeted that it was a “terrible day” for his state.
Copyright 2018 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
Well I just got done watching The Clash at Daytona that I taped on Sunday, and Brad Keselowski, held off his teammate and last years clash winner Joey Logano for the checkered flag. Brad Keselowski won the first race of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, taking home the checkered flag in the Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona after starting from the rear of the field. Last year's winner and Keselowski's teammate Joey Logano came in second, while 2017 Daytona 500 winner Kurt Busch came in third.
The No. 2 driver remained confident throughout all the shuffling during the 75-lap extravaganza, a confidence that was noted on Twitter hours before the race even began. Keselowski will not earn any playoff points, or clinch a spot in the NASCAR playoffs with the win. However he will not go home empty-handed. Despite being an exhibition race, The Clash comes with a hefty purse for the winner. Keselowski is listed as the betting favorite for next week's Daytona 500 at 7/1 according to VegasInsider.
Austin Dillon started the race on the pole (earned position via blind draw) and quickly gave it up to Denny Hamlin. The No. 11 then instantly reengaged his on-track rivalry with Chase Elliott -- now in the No. 9 -- when the former No. 24 driver passed him for the lead. For what it's worth, the two would later draft each other in a push towards the front.
The 27-year-old Dillon jumped back into the lead about 10 laps later and continued to shuffle with Elliott while Keselowski inched closer and closer to the front.
Logano made the pass on Elliott for the lead on lap 24. Logano and a large portion of the field came down pit road just before the competition caution while Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Ryan Newman stayed out. Those drivers later came down pit road under caution.
Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson was penalized for driving through three pit boxes and sent to the rear of the field. It wasn't a major setback for the veteran given the size of the field.
Finally making his move back to the front, Keselowski led the field to green following the yellow flag. While the group continued to shuffle between Keselowski in first and Stenhouse in last, Jamie McMurray went spinning into the wall after contact with Kurt Busch to bring out the first driver-induced caution of the 2018 season. He would later take his car to the garage.
Elliott led the field back to green on lap 38 but was immediately passed by Keselowski. 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. then made a great run up Keselowski's bumper with 34 to go and briefly took the lead before falling back due to lack of drafting partners.
Stenhouse was penalized with a little over 30 to go for making a pass below the yellow line. The No. 17 was forced to come down pit road for a pass through.
Keselowski continued to lead the field in front of teammates Ryan Blaney and Logano and eventually put fellow Ford driver Stenhouse a lap down with less than 20 to go. The No. 2 picked up a bit of trash on its nose with less than 10 to go but it didn't prove to be an issue.
Dillon and Elliott made the big move at the end of the race together while Blaney tried to do it by himself. It inevitably resulted in a major wreck that included Johnson and Larson, which came on the final lap of the race.
Prior to The Clash on Sunday, Alex Bowman ran an electrifying 46.002-second lap to secure the pole for next Sunday's 60th running of the Daytona 500. Denny Hamlin ran a 46.132 and will start the race second.
The remainder of the field for the Great American Race will be decided Thursday in the Can-Am duels. Starting position for each duel has been determined by Sunday's qualifying times. Odd-positioned cars will line up for the first headlined by Bowman while Hamlin will lead the even-qualified cars to green in the second duel.
Bowman has big shoes to fill this season, taking the place of NASCAR's Most Popular Driver for the past 15 seasons, Dale Earnhardt Jr. The 24-year-old Bowman has 81 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts under his belt, with many coming during the 2016 season as a replacement for the then-injured Earnhardt.
It is the second career pole of Bowman's career, with the first coming at Phoenix during the 2016 season. Danica Patrick ran 28th-fastest on Sunday, and will look to improve starting position time in Thursday's second duel.
Projected starting lineup for Can-Am Duel No. 1
Alex Bowman
Jimmie Johnson
William Byron
Daniel Suarez
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Joey Logano
Aric Almirola
Ryan Blaney
Kurt Busch
Brad Keselowski
Ryan Newman
Jamie McMurray
Darrell Wallace Jr.
Ty Dillon
Chris Buescher
Brendan Gaughan
Matt DiBenedetto
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Mark Thompson
Gray Gaulding
Projected starting lineup for Can-Am Duel No. 2
Denny Hamlin
Kyle Busch
Erik Jones
Kevin Harvick
Chase Elliott
Paul Menard
Austin Dillon
Clint Bowyer
Kasey Kahne
Trevor Bayne
Kyle Larson
Michael McDowell
Martin Truex Jr.
Danica Patrick
AJ Allmendinger
Justin Marks
DJ Kennington
David Gilliland
Corey LaJoie
David Ragan
As far as the Daytona 500 itself goes, the spotlight shifts from Earnhardt to the up-and-comers. Playoff contenders Chase Elliott (last year's pole winner) and Ryan Blaney along with rookies William Byron and Darrell "Bubba" Wallace will be looking to make their mark. Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez are among those looking for success in their sophomore campaigns while Bowman takes over for Dale Jr. in the No. 88.
The Great American Race will also signal Patrick's farewell to NASCAR. Patrick announced before the end of last season that her final two races would be the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500. The 35-year-old will be teaming up with original sponsor GoDaddy in the No. 7 for her sendoff.
Martin Truex Jr. is preparing to begin his title defense in the same state where he won the 2017 Championship less than three months ago. The 37-year-old won eight races, including the final one at Homestead Miami-Speedway. Truex has an average finish of 18.28 at Daytona, with his best being second place in 2016.
