Many still without power after high winds
The workweek is ending on a warm and windy note, with temperatures in the mid-50s and gusts led to tens of thousands of power outages.
As of Saturday. DTE Energy reported that about 75,000 of its customers remained without power. The utility said that 117,000 customers were affected by the sustained high winds that caused extensive outages. All available line crews are working 16-hour shifts to restore the remaining, DTE said on its website.
Consumers Energy on Saturday said of the 55,000 customers who loss power Friday, 20,200 were still in the dark as of 11:45 p.m. Saturday.
Deb Dodd, a spokeswoman for Consumers, said the majority of customers affected were in the Ingham County area and south. She said most customers should be restored today but some may spill over into Monday.
“We down have downed power lines and urge people to be careful if they’re out cleaning up,” said Dodd. “If you you think you see one call 911 or your local utility and stay at least 25 feet way from the downed line.”
Saturday’s high likely won’t match Friday’s near-record of 61 degrees or bring winds as fast, but temperatures still are forecast to rise into the mid-50s and wind gusts could get as high as 25-30 mph. Overnight, the low temperature will be just above freezing.
The winds Friday led to power outages in southeast Michigan and elsewhere across the state. They also caused a pole to topple in Detroit and strike a woman. The woman was hospitalized after the pole fell onto a sidewalk near Sixth and Howard about 5:30 p.m., Sgt. Michael Woody said. Her condition wasn’t known Friday night.
After Saturday’s springlike warmth and winds, expect a return to normal.
Sunday will cool down from the previous two days. Highs will reach only the mid-40s. It will be a dry day.
On Monday, the start of the new work week, the high temperature is expected to be 34 degrees, but the day also will be dry. Overnight, temperatures will reach the low 20s.
Staff Writer Mark Hicks contributed.
The forecast
Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Windy, with a west wind 18 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 47 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 52. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Saturday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. West northwest wind 7 to 13 mph.
Sunday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. West northwest wind around 7 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
Sunday night: Cloudy, with a low around 24.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 34.
Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20.
Source: National Weather Service