SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) -- Flooded streets and downed trees are a common sight in a multiple Metro Detroit communities on Thursday, after gusty and drenching thunderstorms blew through overnight.
Some of the areas hit the hardest were Southfield, Berkley, Royal Oak, Mt. Clemens and Chesterfield Township, where thousands of homes and businesses are waiting for their electricity to be restored.
Speaking live with WWJ's Jackie Paige and Jonathan Carlson, Brian Calka, Director of Distribution Operations for DTE, said several straight days of 90 degree-plus temperatures created a lot of energy in the atmosphere, leading to these storms.
"About 56,000 customers in total were impacted by those storms," Calka said. "We worked through the night tirelessly; got about 17,000 restored through the night. So, right now we're right around that 39,000/40,000 mark in terms of total customers out of power."
How long will restoration take?
"We expect to get about 80% of the customers who were impacted last night restored by the end of the day today, with the remaining customers restored by end of day tomorrow (Friday)" Calka said. "We have over a thousand of our employees out doing restoration work right now."
In Oakland County's Beverly Hills, Jason Brown said his home was spared, but a large tree fell on his neighbor's garage, doing a lot of damage.
"It was really quick, as you know, it was 20-30 minutes," Brown said. "But then, yes, I heard a crack in the front yard... Obviously it was very dark, not a lot of lights in the front, but I flashed a flashlight a few minutes later and saw the damage and said: 'Well, everybody's OK. We're deal with it in the morning'."
As always, the public is reminded to never touch and to stay at least 25 feet away from any downed wires.
WWJ AccuWeather Meteorologist Joe Lundberg said more severe weather is in the forecast for Thursday in Metro Detroit.
"Look out for heavy, gusty thunderstorms again this afternoon and this evening that could produce damaging winds and hail," Lundberg said, with the greatest risk for severe storms in areas south of I-69.
Meanwhile. there's still a Heat Advisory in effect for all of Metro Detroit, through 10 p.m. on Thursday; although Lundberg said he won't be surprised if it's extended.
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