(WWJ) Another round of severe weather blew through Southeast Michigan on Wednesday, leaving a couple of hundred thousand homes and businesses without power.
DTE Energy said gusty thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday combined resulted in a total of more than 200,000 customer outages.
Early Thursday morning, DTE said around 118,948 homes and businesses were off the grid.
Many of the outages were in Farmington, Walled Lake, Bloomfield, Mt. Clemens, Clinton Township and New Baltimore, with more than 800 downed power lines, utility poles, and trees reported.
While no estimated time was given for restoration, DTE said damage assessors and field teams "are working around the clock to restore power as safely and quickly as possible."
At 5 p.m., Michigan State Police reported storm damage in Groveland Township. Trees and power lines were down and some flooding in the village of Holly.
"Use care if driving in that area," MSP said.
At 6 p.m., the WWJ Traffic Center reported there were dozens of traffic lights out in metro Detroit, (SEE THE DTE OUTAGE MAP)
Drivers were urged to watch out for downed power lines. Toward the end of the afternoon commute, southbound I-275 was shut down at 8 Mile Rd., and northbound I-275 was closed at right after the I-696 exit due to downed lines across the freeway. The freeway has since reopened.
Customers should report power outages or downed power lines online at outage.dteenergy.com, with the DTE Energy Mobile app, or at 1-800-477-4747. Stay at least 20 feet away from all power lines and anything they’re in contact with and consider them live.
So, is it over? A Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for all of Southeast Michigan and areas beyond expired at 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
Looking ahead: WWJ AccuWeather Meteorologist Dean DeVore said temps are expected to cool down into the upper 70s on Thursday, with another shower or thunderstorm possible in metro Detroit. Friday looks nicer, with sun and clouds and a high of 77, ahead of a mixed bag of sun and rain in the forecast for the weekend.
Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 for updates, every 10 minutes on the 8s. CLICK HERE to listen live now!