Power outages in Michigan continue for thousands two days after storm

June 22, 2024

More than 17,000 customers of Michigan’s electric utility were without power Friday night, two days after storms hit the southeastern part of the state, according to figures from DTE Energy.

DTE reported that 13,081 of its electric customers in its southeast Michigan service area were without power as of about 7:45 p.m. Friday, according to the company’s outage map. In a statement on its website Friday evening, it said more than 80% of affected customers had power restored and that thousands of field and line workers had arrived from several states and were working around the clock.

This number is a decrease from the 34,354 reported cases of power outages during the night from Thursday to Friday, when there were 18,601 reported outages by 10:30 a.m.

The areas with the most customers without power on Friday are places that suffered the most from the severe storms on Wednesday. For example, more than 5,000 DTE customers are without power near Beverly Hills, according to the company’s outage map. More than 500 are without power near Royal Oak and another 1,000 near Berkeley.

According to Consumers Energy, 4,696 of its customers were without power as of 8 p.m. Friday.

Thursday’s storms again targeted Metro Detroit as communities were still cleaning up after Wednesday’s strong winds and rain. The turbulence triggered severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings in some areas.

The NWS has also issued a hazardous weather forecast for southeast Michigan for Friday.

The stormiest time is between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m., the weather service said.

“Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon, especially south of I-69. The strongest storms may produce wind gusts up to 60 mph,” NWS officials said on the agency’s website. “Storms are moving northeast at about 25 mph. Any strong storms may produce torrential rain, with total rainfall exceeding 2 inches. Localized flooding in urban and lowland areas is possible.”

Temperatures could reach nearly 90 degrees.

Meanwhile, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments is warning residents that the fifth air quality warning of the season will be in effect for southeast Michigan on Friday.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy said elevated ozone levels are expected in the region and pollutant levels could reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups.

Officials said residents – including those with respiratory conditions such as asthma – should avoid strenuous outdoor activities.

A small to moderate risk of excessive rainfall is expected across much of southeast Michigan’s cities, the National Weather Service’s White Lake Township office posted on social media Friday. More than an inch of rain could fall in thunderstorms between noon and 6 p.m. Saturday and into the night.

There is a risk of isolated flooding, especially in urban areas, the weather service said.

Editor Julia Cardi contributed.