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Trees, Power Lines Torn Down As Fast-Moving Storms Strike Michigan

DETROIT (WWJ) -  Power lines and trees were ripped down by high winds Monday as fast-moving, gusty storms moved across Michigan.

CBS 62 Chief Meteorologist Jim Madaus said a cold front moving across the state triggered the severe weather Monday.

Reports of storm damage came rolling in before 5 p.m. — and it seems like the area around Wayne, northeast to Garden City, got hit the hardest.

About 2,000 homes and businesses were without power at 6 p.m.,  mainly in western Wayne County. Nearly 800 homes and businesses blacked out at Wayne and Van Born in Romulus, and another 900 outages were reported at Ford Road and Inkster in Garden City. Other scattered outages are reported near Michigan Avenue and Wayne Road in the city of Wayne and near Merriman and Cherry Hill in Westland.

down power line Wayne
A downed tree branch is seen in a street in Wayne on Monday, May 11, 2015. (credit: Jon Hewett/WWJ)

Emergency crews reported a large tree branch was down on Henry Ruff Road near Marquette in Garden City and power lines are down near Merriman and Palmer in Westland, with the power going out in those areas.

Near Metro Airport a 45 mile per hour wind gust was recorded; and, in Monroe County, near Dundee, there were other wind gusts over 40 miles per hour that knocked down a couple of trees.

tree down Wayne
A downed tree branch is seen in a street in Wayne on Monday, May 11, 2015. (credit: Jon Hewett/WWJ)

Work came to a halt at the Ford Wayne Assembly plant during  brief power outage, Monday afternoon.  Ford officials said the outage around 4 p.m. was caused by inclement weather. Some workers were sent home early but, going forward, all employees were asked to report during their regularly scheduled hours.

A Tornado Watch that was initially issued for all of Southeast Michigan until 8 p.m. was canceled early, and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for some areas have expired.

WWJ Newsradio 950 has our eye on the sky. Keep it tuned for the latest forecast during traffic and weather, every 10 minutes on the 8s. Find the latest weather watches and warnings and see live, local radar HERE].

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