U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman speaks to a crowd at Van Andel Arena during a Donald J. Trump campaign rally in downtown Grand Rapids, Mich. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

This is easily the worst ice storm in modern times — in the last 50 years — and you have to go back all the way to 1922 to find something even remotely close,” said Harold Dippman, meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Gaylord.

Progress was being made mid-week in returning power to thousands across Northern Michigan. Meanwhile, the Michigan National Guard has been deployed to help with recovery efforts.

From Texas to Arkansas to Michigan, thousands of flights were delayed or canceled Wednesday due to widespread storms and rough winds. Ice storms in Toronto were the main reason travelers Tom Barnes and Jeff Spencer were stuck in Detroit overnight.

Wednesday could start slippery in areas around and north of I69. Rounds of storms are likely for the metro Detroit area. The highest chance of severe storms will be in the evening and Wednesday night.

The National Weather Service warned on Thursday of "generational" floods in the U.S. South and Midwest as storms ripped across a swath of the country from Texas to Michigan, whipping up tornadoes and killing two people.

The National Weather Service warned on Thursday of "generational" floods in the southern and Midwestern United States, as storms ripped across a swath of the country from Texas to Michigan, flinging down hail and whipping up tornadoes.