Power Outages Statewide Quick Warnings to Consumers Energy and NWS

08/21/21 3:30 p.m. Update:

Previously:

The stormy weather last night stretched from the Indiana state line to the UP and caused thousands of power outages statewide, particularly in western Michigan.

Consumer customers are currently reporting restore times ranging from today to Friday. To find specific information about your outage, you can visit the Consumers Energy Outage Center.

Consumers Energy is also asking the public to keep important safety tips in mind:

• Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement, enclosed patio, or near air intakes. Doing so could cause a generator to produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless, and deadly gas.
• Consumers Energy will cut or remove trees interfering with electrical restoration activities. Once it is safe to do so, cleaning up debris from pruning or tree removal during a storm is the responsibility of individual owners.
• In some cases, the mast that holds the electrical service wires to a customer’s home or business may have been damaged or torn off. Crews will reconnect the wires to a house, but only a licensed electrician can repair or replace a mast or cable.
• Be aware of the teams working along the roads. Drivers should slow down or stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear so that they can safely pass workers on the side of roads.
• Call 2-1-1 if you are looking for help connecting to resources that offer help in your community. 2-1-1 is a free service statewide.

The Grand Rapids National Weather Service is warning of harsher weather conditions overnight as nearly 200,000 Michigan residents are without power.

The damage from this storm prompted the NWS in Grand Rapids to issue an alert for possible storms tonight and windy conditions today:

First, we expect more thunderstorms today and tonight, and some could be severe. The big change: thunderstorms (especially violent) are now possible in the afternoon. We will tell you more shortly. Then it will be a bit windy today, even outside of thunderstorms. The speeds we would expect wouldn’t normally be a problem, but there are likely branches in some trees that were damaged by storms last night and only need a little push to get down. Be careful under the trees today.

Finally, the combination of heat and humidity will make it look like temperatures are in the mid-90s over southern Michigan and parts of central Michigan such as Mount Pleasant. Stay hydrated, find shade, and we’re really thinking of those of you who don’t have electricity.

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