High Winds, Hail, and Lightning Cause Widespread Outages
On Tuesday, August 27th, a line of severe thunderstorms moved through parts of lower Michigan, bringing with it extreme heat, humidity, and dangerous weather conditions. The storms, fueled by the high temperatures and humidity, produced winds up to 70 mph and penny-size hail. The storms quickly moved eastward at around 45 mph, leaving a trail of power outages in their wake. According to reports, more than 18,000 customers in West Central Michigan, including Mecosta, Osceola, Lake, and northern Newaygo counties, lost power due to the storms.
Over 100,000 Customers Affected Statewide
The severe weather was not limited to a specific region, as the storms caused widespread power outages across the state. As of 4:15 pm on Tuesday, Consumers Energy reported that 103,081 customers were without power. By the end of the day, the company estimated that 851 outages were affecting 104,275 people statewide.
Heat Advisory Remains in Effect
The extreme heat and humidity that fueled the storms are expected to persist until at least the end of the work week, when a more potent cold front is expected to move through on Friday. A Heat Advisory remained in effect until 10 pm on Tuesday, with temperatures reaching as high as 95 degrees in some areas and the humidity pushing the heat index over 100 degrees.
Ongoing Recovery Efforts
Utility companies are working to restore power to affected areas as quickly as possible. Residents are advised to stay safe and avoid any downed power lines or debris. The National Weather Service has urged people to monitor local weather forecasts and take necessary precautions in the event of future severe weather.
What areas in Michigan were most affected by the storms
The areas in Michigan most affected by the recent storms include:
- West Michigan: The hardest-hit regions are Kent, Newaygo, Mecosta, Montcalm, and Ionia counties, where significant power outages were reported. Over 100,000 customers lost power due to the severe thunderstorms that swept through the area.
- Central Michigan: Counties like Branch, Eaton, and Shiawassee often experience severe weather, and this pattern continued with the recent storms impacting these regions as well.
- Southeast Michigan: The storms also affected areas in the Detroit market, including Livingston, Washtenaw, and Monroe counties, where severe weather alerts are common.
Overall, the storms caused widespread damage and power outages across various parts of the state, particularly in the western and central regions.
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