(WWJ) The latest weather news has some wondering when the locusts will descend on the region because after spending weeks as one of the worst hotspots in the coronavirus outbreak, which has shuttered bars, restaurants, offices, schools and locked people inside their houses -- now the winds are here.
High winds are shutting down power for some in metro Detroit today; and people are urged to charge the devices they need to sustain themselves at home, just in case.
Winds ranging 60-70 mph are expected starting mid-morning across metro Detroit, which some fear could bring down trees and power lines. How long will it last? The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Advisory from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday.
DTE spokesman Dave Peterson said crews were already geared up early Monday to face potentially wild weather ... and the deadly coronavirus.
"They are prepared with the proper PPE (personal protective equipment)," Peterson told WWJ 950. "They will have their masks ... We are asking people please don't approach the crew so they can make sure you're safe as a customer, as well as them self."
There were several thousand outages in metro Detroit throughout the day, but DTE worked quickly to get homes and businesses back on the grid.
Widespread wind gusts of 35-50 mph were recorded mid-afternoon. Here's a look:
Monday started off with rain and mild temperatures in the upper 50s before a powerful cold front streamed across the region mid-morning.
Rain ended as temps plummetted into the 40s by afternoon, as the strength of the wind increased dramatically.
But if there's a bright side to this for metro Detroit, it's that rain and wind are forecast instead of the white stuff they're dealing with Up North.
Per MLive, the Upper Peninsula will stay on the cold side of the storm. "A large part of the western two-thirds of the U.P. will have over one foot of snow," their report says. "Some areas in the higher elevations along the Lake Superior shoreline near Marquette could have up to two feet of snow. The heavy snow combined with strong winds will likely cause power outages."