Hundreds thousands of homes and businesses in southeast Michigan were left without electricity after a series of late-night thunderstorms thundered through the region late Wednesday with two more rounds crossing the area on Thursday.
After another storm moved through Oakland County, the number of customers without power had grown to 115,650 by early afternoon Thursday. After a second storm system passed, brining tornado warnings, the outages numbered more than 286,000.
The second round of storms in the mid-afternoon came as schools were letting out. In Troy, buses returned to the schools so students could shelter in place.
With wind gusts hitting 70 mph in the first round, sirens sounded in some communities, including Troy. In Oakland Township and Rochester Hills, branches were knocked down and water covered some roadways, including parts of Adams Road. The township warned that motorists should turn around and attempt to drive over water-covered roads.
The Orion Township Professional Firefighters Local reported at about noon on Facebook they had been “inundated with calls following the storm. Multiple power lines down, multiple trees down, and possible structure fires. Every station is committed on emergencies at the moment. Remember, if you see a line down, do not approach it and call 9-1-1. Please be vigilant of tree limbs and the potential for falling branches.”
In Rochester, the city’s police department reported at 1 p.m. Thursday, via Facebook, “Emergency operations are in place and we have crews from police, fire, and public works working diligently to get branches clear, downed wires safe, and return Rochester to normal travel.”
In Rochester Hills, power poles along Tienken Road in front of Adams High School were tilting over, leading to the road being closed, according to images shared on the Oakland County Scanner Facebook group. Rochester Community Schools also announced some school buses may be running late due to road conditions.
The storms late Wednesday carried flooding downpours, 2-inch hail, and spectacular lightning followed by house-shaking thunder.
Metro Detroit was hardest hit area in regards to power outages.
Shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday, the number of DTE Energy customers in the dark numbered 99,020. Additionally, Consumers Energy reported 2,825 customers without power, including about 500 south of Midland and the rest southwest of Lansing.
DTE Energy officials said late in the morning that more than 2,600 storm response team members were working already to repair damage and restore electricity with another 80 en route from outside of the state to assist in restoration efforts.
“We estimate that 80 percent of impacted customers will be restored by the end of the day,” DTE said. “We know how challenging it is to be without power.”
The utility emphasized that workers are acting quickly but also will work as safely as possible. One issue to contend with is the potential for more severe weather on Thursday. At 10:50 a.m., the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning with a storm system moving eastward through central Oakland County with wind gusts of 70 mph expected. The warning will last until 11:45 a.m.
“Expect considerable tree damage. Damage is likely to mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings,” the NWS said. “People attending Michigan State Fair should seek safe shelter immediately!”
By 10 a.m., the number of outages for DTE Energy topped 101,800 customers before being reduced slightly to just over 99,000 an hour later.
Center Line Public Schools and Howell Public Schools had to cancel classes Thursday as did Brother Rice and Marian high schools due to power outages. According to wxyz.com, a large tree was toppled, crashing into a home. Also, WWJ-950 reported on a massive tree having been knocked onto a home in Warren.
There were no immediate reports of significant storm damage in Macomb or Oakland counties on Wednesday night, but that could change by Thursday morning in the light of day, according to the National Weather Service.
“The characteristics of this storm produced severe damaging winds produced as it moved through Livingston and Oakland counties and to the east through Macomb County,” said Alex Manion, a meteorologist with the weather service.
“We had reports of 67 mile an hour winds near the Livingston County airport and one of our employees lives in Livingston and he estimated wind gusts to be around 70 mph at the very least.”
In Macomb County, winds were between 45 and 60 mph during the storms, Manion said.
According to DTE’s outage map, more than 56,000 utility customers were without electricity early Thursday. The map showed pockets of Macomb County neighborhoods had no power.
A bolt of lightning illuminates the sky over Roseville near Common and Utica roads on Wednesday night. (MITCH HOTTS — THE MACOMB DAILY)
As of 6 a.m. Thursday, DTE showed 81,500 customers without power with the highest concentrations between M-59 and I-96.
The county was under a severe thunderstorm warning late Wednesday. A flood warning was in effect until 5:30 a.m. Thursday for southwestern Macomb and southern Oakland counties as 2 inches of rain was expected.
Meteorologists said the region had a marginal risk of showers and strong thunderstorms for Thursday and Friday before the area dries out for a nice Labor Day weekend as the humid and hot conditions end. Highs between Saturday and Monday should be about 80 degrees.
DTE urged people to remember to stay at least 25 feet away from any downed power lines or anything in contact with them.
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