High winds bring threat of big waves, power outages

High winds are forecast for Metro Detroit on Thursday, bringing the threat of tree and power line damage and producing waves topping out at 25 feet on Lake Michigan and as high as 15 feet on Lake Huron, the National Weather Service said.

A high wind warning is in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday for 11 counties including Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Livingston and Monroe.

“We’ve got a low pressure system coming through the Great Lakes that’s triggering some stronger winds,” said meteorologist Rachel Kulik. “It should be blowing 30 to 40 miles per hour all day. ...”

Westerly wind gusts are expected to reach 50 to 60 mph starting early Thursday morning and lasting into the evening.

Motorists are warned that driving could be dangerous and there’s a chance for structural damage and power outages.

“A wind storm can take down power lines,” said DTE Energy spokesman Scott Simons. “We want all our customers to treat down power lines as live. Stay at least 20 feet away.”

People should also stay away from vehicles or fencing near downed lines. “Those can conduct electricity,” he said. “It’s as dangerous as the wires themselves.”

DTE alerts employees as much as 24 hours before expected severe weather as part of its storm emergency plan, Simons said.

Consumers Energy said Wednesday that its employees were preparing for an increase in power outages.

Meanwhile, gale force winds heading toward Michigan on Thursday could produce 25 foot waves on Lake Michigan and 15 foot breakers on Lake Huron. The area with the largest waves was expected to extend from Michigan City, Indiana, to Manistee.

The high winds may produce high waves in southeast Michigan, as well. A gale watch has been issued for parts of Lake Huron, including Harbor Beach to Port Sanilac, from Wednesday evening through Friday afternoon. The storm front will produce winds as high as 45 mph, which can create waves topping out at 15 feet.

The Chicago office of the weather service issued a gale force warning until 10 p.m. Friday, part of a strong storm system moving into the Midwest.

Great Lakes shipping all but came to a halt Wednesday in lower Lake Michigan, where the stiffest gales were expected to begin Wednesday night. Ships headed north, such as the SS Wilfred Sykes, anchored south of Chicago to wait out the weather.

“Going to wait until the winds go west and then proceed up” the west Lake Michigan shore, tweeted Capt. Eric Treece of the Sykes, a 671-foot bulk freighter for Inland Steel. “Soonest I think that will be will be tomorrow evening.”

The John D. Leitch was the lone freighter southbound late Wednesday, according to vessel search websites, and it was headed for Indiana Harbor. It was reported off Frankfort and expected to arrive on Thursday, which would likely put it near the highest predicted waves.

“We do strongly advise inexperienced mariners to stay in and stay onshore and wait until the weather subsides,” said Petty Officer Third Class Christopher Yaw, public affairs specialist for the Ninth Coast Guard District. “A small wave can be a big deal depending on people’s experience.”

High waves are not only dangerous to boaters, but also to those on shore.

“People want to go down to the shore and watch the waves,” Yaw said. “That’s not good. (Waves) can easily overcome the piers and wash people away.”

The expected high for Thursday will be about 51.

“But things will cool down on Friday, and that means there’s the possibility of the ‘S’ word in the forecast: snow, mixed with rain,” Elliott said. “If that happens, it would probably be by 1 p.m., after that, it will be just rain without any snow.”

cwilliams@detroitnews.com

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Extended forecast

Wednesday night: Showers after 1 a.m. Low of 44. Winds picking up, 9 to 14 mph increasing to 16 to 21 after midnight. Gusts of 26 mph.

Thursday: Showers before noon, cloudy and 51. Winds 22 to 30 mph with gusts of 55 mph.

Thursday night: Mostly cloudy and 39. Winds of 25 to 31 mph and gusts of 50 mph.

Friday: Rain possibly mixed with snow before 1 p.m., then turning to just rain. Windy with winds of 23 to 26 mph and gusts of 37 mph.

Friday night: Mostly cloudy and 37.

Saturday: Mostly sunny and 46.

Saturday night: Partly cloudy with a low of 36.

Sunday: Sunny and 56.

Sunday night: Clear and 37.