Severe Thunderstorms Leave Thousands Without Power

Severe thunderstorms packing high winds that moved across Michigan have left more than 100,000 electric customers without power.

Consumers Energy said Wednesday morning that about 104,000 of its customers were without power, including about 35,500 in Kent County, 11,000 in Ionia County and 8,850 in Midland County.
Consumers says crews were out working to restore service.

DTE Energy tells WWJ that about 12,000 of its customers were still without power Wednesday morning, including about 4,100 in Lapeer County and 3,400 in Ingham County.

-- In Lapeer County, numerous trees and power lines were down across the county.

--In Genesee County, a large tree was blown down, and hit a man on a motorcycle. The sheriff's department said they had no reports of injuries. DPW crews are busy throughout the county, cleaning up debris from downed trees and branches. Several intersections were also without power.

-- In Ionia, a trained weather spotter with the National Weather Service reports a two-and-a-half-foot diameter tree limb was knocked down, and blocked traffic on Palmer Road.

The Grand Rapids Press reports the storms packed winds of up to 72 mph in the Grand Rapids area on Tuesday night, downing trees and power lines.

(Copyright 2010. WWJ Newsradio 950/The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)