An ice storm passed through northern Michigan on Saturday, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of customers in the area.

A long recovery remains ahead for the Northern Lower Michigan communities that were hit by an ice storm during the weekend of March 28-30. Some students will have had at least two weeks off school once they return, and thousands of residents still do not have power.

Residents in the most severely affected areas are being encouraged not to travel unless necessary and to watch for downed wires and work crews.