4Warn Weather – Around 16,000 DTE Energy customers were without power Friday morning after storms moved through Metro Detroit this week.
As of 2:30 p.m. on Friday, June 21, more than 16,000 Southeast Michigan DTE customers were in the dark. Strong-to-severe storms have been moving through Metro Detroit all week amid a heat wave.
The most power outages appeared to happen after strong storms on Wednesday night, with more than 40,000 customers without power on Thursday morning.
“Thousands of DTE field crews and line workers brought in from several states are working around the clock to restore power to customers affected by Wednesday evening’s severe weather,” DTE’s website read Friday morning. “We know how challenging it is to be without power, particularly in this heat. Our Storm Response Teams are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore service.”
An estimated restoration timeline was not publicly provided for those without power as of Friday morning.
DTE previously said the outages were caused by “extreme weather” that struck the region Wednesday evening. Metro Detroit has been susceptible to afternoon thunderstorms this week due to a streak of high temperatures and high humidity.
The Metro Detroit heatwave continues Friday, with highs forecast in the low 90s. Temperatures will feel even warmer with the humidity factored in.
Thunderstorms remain a possibility on Friday, particularly between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. -- though showers and storms are possibly at any time. Storms will continue into the weekend. Any storms may bring hazards like wind gusts up to 60 mph, heavy rainfall and localized flooding.
---> See the latest forecast here.
Report an outage to DTE here. Report an outage to Consumers Energy here.
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What to do if you find downed power lines
Stay at least 20 feet away from downed power lines and keep children and pets inside.
DTE Energy said you should assume that all downed power lines are energized and dangerous.
You can report downed lines to DTE Energy by calling 800-477-4747 or to Consumers Energy by calling 800-477-5050.
If you believe the downed power line poses an immediate danger to the public, you should call 911.
Energized wires that have fallen may whip around, spark or arc as they look for a ground. Energized wires that have found their ground might not move at all or make any sound, but they are still dangerous.
Click here to learn more about electrical safety from DTE Energy.