Thousands without power after storms sweep through Michigan

DETROIT — About 290,000 homes and businesses were without electricity Thursday in Michigan after thunderstorms barreled through the state, downing hundreds of trees and power lines.

DTE Energy said about 137,000 of its customers in southeast Michigan were without service as of 6 a.m. after about 90,000 had power restored following Wednesday’s latest round of storms.

Consumers Energy crews were trying to restore power to about 151,000 customers. About 240,000 lost service from the start of the storms on Tuesday evening, the utility said.

The storms were remnants of Tropical Storm Cristobal, which moved from the Gulf of Mexico north into the Midwest — causing flooding and damage along the way — before continuing into Canada.

In Michigan, damage was scattered throughout the state. High winds tipped two semitrailers on US-127 in Gratiot County, The Detroit News reported. A church roof was peeled away in Sanilac County.

Detroit-based DTE Energy said most of its customers without service will have it back by Friday with the rest restored Saturday.

Some of Jackson-based Consumers Energy’s hardest-hit customers in Branch, Calhoun, Jackson, Kent and Saginaw counties may not see power restored until the weekend, the utility said.