Storms leave almost 300,000 customers without power in Michigan

Most of this weekend’s severe weather has passed, but metro Detroiters could see more power outages as ice-coated tree branches break and take down power lines.

About 119,000 DTE Energy customers already are without power in southeastern Michigan, a company spokeswoman said. The outages have steadily increased since the early morning.



The ice storm's effects could be felt for several days, DTE spokeswoman Erica Donerson said.

"While many customers lose power soon after the storm hits, electrical outages may continue to occur over the next several days, as branches -- still loaded with ice -- break and bring down power lines," Donerson said in a statement. "A quarter of an inch of ice is the equivalent of 500 pounds of weight on a span of power line."

The outages are concentrated in northern Oakland County, Lapeer County and Livingston County. Crews are working 16-hour shifts to restore power. DTE hoped to restore power by tonight for about half of its customers without power.

“However, the number of outages are increasing and the winds are picking up, so we may not meet that goal,” Donerson said in an e-mail. “Restoration times are still unavailable.”

The storm caused another 180,000 outages elsewhere in the state, particularly around Flint and Lansing, according to a spokesman for Consumers Energy.

■ Lansing State Journal: 60K homes, businesses without power in Mid-Michigan after ice storm
■ Related: 'Big, crazy storm of contrasts' rips South, Northeast
Most of the treacherous weather that was anticipated this weekend has passed metro Detroit, but some freezing drizzle remains, according to the National Weather Service.

The northern suburbs could see a dusting of snow later today or tonight, said Heather Orow, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service’s White Lake Township office.

“We’re not expecting any significant icing through the rest of the day,“ Orow said.

Roads throughout metro Detroit are wet and slick in some areas, according to a Michigan State Police advisory this morning.