High winds cause Michigan power outages, snarl repair work

DETROIT (AP) – Strong winds across Michigan caused tens of thousands of new electrical outages Saturday and frustrated efforts to repair widespread damage to power lines from overnight storms.

Nearly 50,000 additional outages to homes and businesses were reported by DTE Energy in Detroit and surrounding areas of southeastern Michigan during the day Saturday.

Those pushed the total outages involving the state’s major electric utilities to about 250,000.

Southeastern Michigan was under a high wind warning from the National Weather Service for most of Saturday, with sustained winds of 35 mph and gusts topping 50 mph.

DTE said it had more than 1,500 employees and contractors working to make repairs.