Abnormal weather wreaks more havoc

Sudden rain, hail and lightning struck Michigan Saturday evening, leaving thousands without power. Winds reached up to 60 miles per hour, uprooting trees, ripping shingles off roofs and downing power lines. By Monday night, temperatures plunged and snow fell. The Flint area received about an inch of snow and the Detroit area received about 3 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

By today, power has been restored to most residents who experienced a power outage over the weekend. Consumers Energy reports 2,900 Genesee County customers experienced a power outage, with more than 110,000 customers being affected throughout the state. Parts of I-75 and I-475 were closed due to downed power lines. In Oakland County, 48,000 DTE Energy customers were affected by the storm.

Locally, certain parts of Linden and Fenton Township were hit hardest and experienced power outages. Gaines, Mundy and Argentine townships were also hit hard by the sudden storms.

Some residents believe this past weekends storms were close to being tornadoes.

Earth was coming up and we saw lightning hit trees, said Fenton Township resident Gregory Pelc. We went into the basement and we heard a boom! I thought all the windows were being broken out.

That boom was a fallen tree that smashed into Pelcs back porch. Pelcs neighbors also experienced some damage, with shingles ripped from roofs and outside furniture ravaged from the strong winds. A trampoline was impaled into the side of one house.

Pat Matney, who lives near Lake Fenton Middle School, said two trees fell onto her house Saturday evening. She and her dog didnt hear it however, not realizing that her roof had been damaged until the next morning. A tree cutting crew removed the debris on Sunday.

Where the weather seems to have stabilized in Genesee County, the western part of Michigan is experiencing detrimental weather. The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for Clare, Lake, Mason and Muskegon counties. Emmet and Wexford counties have also reported signs of flooding.

While spring weather can be unpredictable in Michigan, this weekends past storms didnt match up to last years weather, when tornadoes ripped through Genesee County. Looking ahead, the National Weather Service expects sunnier weather for the rest of the week, aside from showers on Friday. Temperatures are expected to range from the low 50s to the mid 60s, possibly reaching the 70s next week.

Those without power can contact Consumers Energy at (800) 477-5050 or DTE Energy at (800) 477-4747.

Excerpt from:
Abnormal weather wreaks more havoc