More than 4 million people across five states were under winter storm alerts on Sunday as heavy lake-effect snow continued to bury the Great Lakes region, prompting emergency declarations and the deployment of National Guard troops to rescue stranded motorists.

A winter storm could bring more than a foot of snow to parts of northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, according to the National Weather Service. Gaylord is expected to get 13-18 inches of snow. Other predictions include 13-21 inches in Mancelona,

The Lake County Commissioners declared a State of Emergency in the response to the winter storm affecting the area.

An intense lake effect is forecast through the rest of the weekend, causing as much as 1 to 2 feet of additional snow in some areas.

Post-Thanksgiving travel plans were thrown into trouble as almost 30 inches of snow fell along Lake Erie, closing a stretch of I-90 and stranding motorists.

After an unusually mild fall, as much as 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 meters) of snow were possible along Lake Erie and south of Buffalo from lake-effect bands notorious for pummeling

The greatest snow totals are expected around Watertown in New York’s Tug Hill Plateau, as well as between Erie, Pennsylvania, and Buffalo.