Thousands remain without power after storms pound Metro Detroit

Steve Murphy
The Detroit News

More than 16,000 people are without power Saturday evening after rainstorms with strong winds swept through Metro Detroit.

Berlin Twp. fire fighter Tom Callewaert secures the scene on Hough Rd., just east of North Ave. in Berville.
Residents on Hough Rd., just east of North Ave. in Berville, southwestern St. Clair County, deal with downed trees into houses and vehicles, Friday afternoon, July 10, 2020, after hail and straight-line winds blew through the area early Friday afternoon.

Nearly 40,000 were without power Saturday morning tending to the largest outage areas in Rochester Hills between Rochester and Dequindre roads, where nearly 3,000 customers were affected, and in the Armada area, where just over 2,000 customers lacked power. 

DTE Energy has 245 crews in the field to restore power for 12,000 customers and Consumers Energy has 45 crews to repair 4,500 customers affected.

Less than 2 inches of rainfall across Metro Detroit. Meanwhile, wind gusts of 60 mph caused damage to power lines, blew down trees and damaged some homes and vehicles in St. Clair County.

A huge tree lays on this vehicle and residence, owned by the Hunger family in Berville, Friday afternoon. 
Residents on Hough Rd., just east of North Ave. in Berville, southwestern St. Clair County, deal with downed trees into houses and vehicles, Friday afternoon, July 10, 2020, after hail and straight-line winds blew through the area early Friday afternoon.

Luckily, the early July heatwave has come to an end, National Weather Service meteorologists say.

Flint saw nine consecutive days of temperatures being at or above 90 degrees. Flint's highest temperature was 97 degrees on July 3.  Detroit had eight consecutive days of high heat with the highest temperature at 95 on July 7, not breaking a record of 11 hot days set in 1953. Saginaw also had five consecutively hot days, the hottest being 95 degrees on July 9.

Extended forecast

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 86. 

Sunday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 88.

Wednesday: A chance of showers after 8 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.