SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) -- More than 240,000 homes and businesses in Metro Detroit are without power on Tuesday after a line of severe thunderstorms moved across Michigan, bringing down trees and power lines across the area.
The National Weather Service Monday evening issued Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for multiple communities in Southeast Michigan, including parts of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, as well as near Ann Arbor, Flint, Saginaw, and Lapeer.
The biggest problem with these storms were the powerful winds, with the strongest gust recorded near Lapeer at 74 mph, while other areas saw gusts between 60 and 70 mph.
By the time it was all over, DTE Energy said more than 235,000 homes and businesses were without power Monday night. At last check Tuesday morning, DTE said there were more than 240,000 homes and businesses in the dark. CHECK THE DTE OUTAGE MAP HERE.
Meanwhile, Consumers Energy said nearly 160,000 customers lost power when storm system made its way across West Michigan earlier in the day.
In Metro Detroit, WWJ listeners were reporting downed tree branches, including a large limb near 12 Mile and Schoenherr roads in Warren.
DTE reported about 1,700 power lines came down during the storm, including this one in Brownstown.
In Westland, WWJ's Mike Campbell snapped photos of downed trees, limbs and wire in residential areas.
M-14 was closed as a precaution between Sheldon and Beck roads due to snapped and downed power poles.
While the storm system packed a punch in terms of winds, heavy rains weren't as big of an issue as some other storms earlier this summer. Some freeways, including M-10, did experience some flooding, however.
DTE's Joe Musallam, speaking live on WWJ, said crews were in the field assessing the situation and beginning repairs in the immediate wake of the storm.
Musallam said anyone who sees a downed wire should stay at least 20 feet away from it and report it via 1-800-477-4747 or on the DTE mobile app.
"Our storm team is working around the clock," he said. "Our next couple hours will be really important. We'll be out assessing damage and managing downed wires. Our goal is to get those repaired safely and quickly."
Musallam said crews from all over the country will be brought in to work on repairs. Officials do not have any restoration estimations yet.
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Meanwhile, there has been one death reported in connection with the storms. Officials in Monroe County say a 14-year-old girl was killed when she touched a downed power line. The girl apparently thought she was picking up a stick, but it was actually a live wire, officials said.
NWS recommends that everyone have a plan in place for severe weather and having multiple ways to get weather updates in case of power outages.
Looking ahead, the Tuesday forecast is decidedly more pleasant, with AccuWeather calling for breezy and cloudy conditions, followed by sunny skies. Temperatures are expected to climb back to a high of 82 degrees, but without the excessive humidity. Forecasters predict mild weather and temperatures in the low 80s through the rest of the week.