That's when flooding can occur. As director of Osceola County Emergency Management, Watkins said he keeps a close eye on water levels, the degree of soil thaw and other factors this time of year. With temperatures expected to rise into the 50s during the next few days, accompanied by rain, there's a good chance that water levels in lakes and rivers will rise throughout the area. He said the possibility of flooding is ever-present for people who own homes in the Evart area near the Muskegon River. "It's something those residents always have to look out for," Watkins said. "It's such a regular thing."