On Tuesday afternoon, Macomb County experienced a brief but powerful thunderstorm that resulted in significant disruptions, including fallen trees and downed power lines. This intense weather led to traffic delays, compounding the regular rush hour congestion.
City officials in Sterling Heights reported that although the damage to homes was considered “minimal,” a large tree fell on power lines along Utica Road near Hayes Road, necessitating road closures while DTE Energy crews conducted repairs. A police officer who surveyed the area described the scene as resembling a “disaster area,” with multiple trees and power lines strewn across roads.
Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, but social media indicated additional uprooted trees in nearby areas such as Clinton Township and Warren. The storm formed under a severe thunderstorm warning issued by the National Weather Service, which noted wind gusts reaching 60 mph, capable of damaging roofs, siding, and trees.
DTE reported that nearly 34,000 households and businesses across the tri-county region were left without electricity due to the storm, including approximately 1,000 customers in Sterling Heights, Fraser, and Eastpointe, as shown on their outage map. This storm provided a momentary relief from a recent heatwave, with temperatures soaring to the mid-90s and a heat index making it feel even hotter, between 98 and 102 degrees.
This storm followed a similar event just six days prior, which caused damage from a weak tornado in Fraser, affecting around 20 homes in the 14 Mile and Garfield area. Meteorologists are advising that the threat of strong thunderstorms may persist through the end of the week, with potential for heavy rainfall and localized flooding.
The challenges faced by the community due to these storms underscore the need for resilience in the face of unpredictable weather, as well as the importance of swift response efforts by local authorities and utility companies.