As winter storm pounds Metro Detroit, 210K DTE customers left without power

Power outages hit Metro Detroit hard as winter storm pounds area

More than 150,000 DTE customers are without power as a heavy snow storm rolls through SE Michigan.

FOX 2 (WJBK) - On Friday a new winter storm rolled across Metro Detroit - but an old problem surfaced - as thousands of DTE Energy customers were left without power.

More than 210,000 DTE customers were without power Friday night while southeastern Michigan labored under a winter storm warning dumping as much as six inches to a foot of snow on the area.

A Berkley police officer told FOX 2 that the heavy snow has been weighing down the power lines, and in one case they were "babysitting" some power lines sagging under the weight because it was next to a lumberyard.

Snow totals range from six inches in Novi to over 9 inches in Howell and 5.8 inches in Troy through the storm's first five hours tonight.

Check the DTE outage map here. Go here to find the DTE Outage Center for reporting outages and downed lines.

In the past few hours alone, much of the area was getting hit by up to two inches of snow an hour according to FOX 2 Weather Authority Lori Pinson.

Metro Detroiters endure heavy snow, and more power outages

Across SE Michigan, a heavy snowstorm bombarded the area and left many in the dark.

Adding to the electricity problems, Metro Detroit also experienced numerous rumbles and lighting, called Thundersnow.

Madison Heights Thundersnow

Metro Detroit is experiencing Thundersnow, captured on this Nest video in Madison Heights. Video courtesy John Shull/FOX 2

Among the hardest hit areas were Fraser with 2,500 outages at 13 Mile and Callahan Road, and in Warren just west of Schoenherr Road along Martin Road, more than 1,500 customers were in the dark.

On the west side, Livonia between Six Mile and Seven Mile has between 1,500 and 2,500 customers out, while Northville and Plymouth as many as 4,000 are out ranging between Northville Road and just south of Seven Mile to Schoolcraft and Wilcox Road.

DTE had issued a warning that with such a strong weather event moving through the area that outages were a possibility.

"Trees and branches weakened by last week’s ice storm may cause more damage to the electric system following the predicted snow and winds," DTE said in a statement.

More winter storm coverage:

Thundersnow

A rare phenomena, thundersnow only occurs under certain circumstances. In this Weather or Not, Fox2 meteorologist Lori Pinson explores this winter rarity.

On Feb. 22, a severe ice storm caused widespread outages, including more than 300,000 customers.

Download the FOX 2 Weather App HERE.