(WWJ) Winds that topped 70 miles per hour knocked out power to more than 100,000 customers across southeastern Michigan Friday, and some electricity won't be restored until Monday.
More than 75,000 customers were without power Saturday morning, according to a DTE Energy outage map. Another 26,000 homes and businesses powered by Consumers Energy were without electricity.
A message posted on DTE Energy's online outage map said:
Our crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to everyone impacted by yesterday’s high winds, which exceeded 70 mph. We estimate that 70% of customers affected will be restored today and nearly all customers will have their power on by end of day tomorrow. We know how challenging it is to be without power. More than 1,000 DTE team members are working around the clock to restore power and we continue to add crews from outside our area to help speed repairs. Please be safe and remain at least 25 feet away from downed power lines or anything in contact with them. Assume any downed line is live and dangerous.
The National Weather Service reported top winds Friday afternoon of 71 mph at Metro Airport in Romulus and near Ann Arbor. Gusts of 66 mph were reported in Belleville and at Detroit City Airport.
Utility crews will be working to restore power in colder weather Saturday, especially at night. The AccuWeather forecast called for a bit of snow, sleet and freezing rain beginning late Saturday evening, with snow and sleet accumulating a slushy coating in some areas. Sunday's forecast called for a warmer day with temperatures reaching into the 60's.
Trees and tree branches littered roads and yards across Metro Detroit.
The winds were to blame for a barricade wall falling Friday night at 12 Oaks Mall in Novi. The General Manager of the mall said everything opened as expected Saturday morning.
No injuries were reported.