LIVE UPDATES: Power outages persist, with more icing and storms on the way

In a press conference Tuesday morning, officials with Consumers Energy said the storms that swept across Michigan this past week are among the worst in the company’s history.

They have over 800 electrical crews, 246 forestry crews and contractors from neighboring states that are trying to restore power to nearly 50,000 Consumers Energy customers.

Crews hoped to restore power to northern counties such as Cheboygan by Friday, but as freezing rain and high winds continue into Wednesday night, they say restoration may be delayed.

“There will be areas that go beyond that and with the additional complexities of this weather, there's going to be new ETRS (estimated time of restoration) established,” Vice President of Electric Distribution Greg Salisbury said. “We may have to move crewing and shift if the damage comes in areas we've already restored or in areas that weren't hit as hard before.”

They advise citizens to minimize traveling and to take extra caution on the road if they do. For the latest estimated restoration times, officials said residents can look at the company’soutage map.

The Mackinac Bridge authority has released video of the falling ice that prompted the bridge to close to all traffic early Wednesday morning.

The bridge closed around 3:00 am, and as of midday Wednesday, ice was still falling from cables and towers.

Emergency officials in Chippewa County are asking residents to conserve gas as supplies dwindle. Counties to the south of Chippewa are experiencing high demand for gas as power outages continue.

First responders there are reducing the amount of fuel they use during shift work, and are residents are being asked to only travel when necessary.

Greg Postma is the Chippewa County Emergency Manager. He says multiple stations are out of gas. The closure of the Mackinac Bridge along with power outages at fuel suppliers are disrupting fuel delivery.

"We do see people who are filling multiple gas cans which I understand you might need for generators. But just keep in mind that if...if you take what you need at this point, rather than consuming resources that might be needed for emergency services or for additional consumption by the public, things will get better," he said.

Postma says the county is working on getting fuel shipments from the Western U.P. "I believe some of them should have been delivered this morning already as far as I know. And then we just made some arrangements to have additional rigs that are waiting on the west end of the UP to start heading this way."

Some Harbor Springs residents could see power restored later today.

In a post on Facebook, the City of Harbor Springs said Wednesday morning that the city's main substation now has power, and crews will begin bringing main circuits online this morning.

Great Lakes Energy has released a graphic explaining how they respond to major power outages.

According to the utility, the priority is high voltage transmission lines, followed by distribution substations, main distribution lines, tap lines, and finally individual homes.

As of 8:40am Wednesday, Great Lakes Energy still had over 35,000 customers without power.

Courtesy Great Lakes Energy

The Mackinac Bridge has been closed due to falling ice since early Wednesday morning.

This latest closure follows a long closure on Tuesday — totaling nearly 11 hours.

Officials with the Mackinac Bridge Authority say icing on the bridge is the worst they've ever seen. Sheets of ice the size of garage doors can fall off the towers during severe ice conditions.

After being closed for much of the day due to falling ice, the Mackinac Bridge re-opened to all traffic just after 7pm Tuesday.

Ice began falling from the bridge's towers around 8:30am Tuesday... narrowly missing several vehicles that were crossing the bridge. The bridge was closed to all traffic shortly thereafter.

Sheets of ice falling from the towers onto the roadway can be as large as garage doors — large enough to cause substantial damage to vehicles.

The Mackinac Bridge Authority has posted video of the falling ice event that forced the bridge to close Tuesday on X.

In the video, a sheet of ice can be seen falling in front of oncoming traffic. According to the bridge authority, nobody was hurt in the incident.

The bridge remains closed to all traffic as of 3:30pm Tuesday.

WCMU's 95.7FM, serving Oscoda, Alpena, and the sunrise coast of Michigan returned to the air around midday on Tuesday. The station had been off the air since early Monday morning due to a power failure.

The station is operating at reduced power, due to icing conditions on our antenna, but should still be able to be heard through much of its normal coverage area.

91.7FM Alpena, 103.9FM Harbor Springs, and TV Channel 6 remain off the air due to power outages. We don't have an estimate at this time as to when power will be restored.

Early Tuesday afternoon, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op released an update on power restoration efforts in northeast Lower Michigan.

In a statement on Facebook, the utility said "We’ve been able to restore power to many substations as of yesterday, so that is good progress. However, the damage is so severe that the power isn’t going very far past the substation due to widespread destruction."

The utility did not provide an exact timeline for restoring power.

"Please know we are doing everything possible to restore power safely and efficiently to our service territory," the utility said in a statement. "The State of Emergency will help us significantly, but this is a multi-day outage. We cannot give exact days or hours; there are too many variables and possibly more bad weather on the way."

The utility's full statement is below:

We’ve received questions about why power restoration is taking so long and why members may see trucks in their area but still do not have power. We understand how frustrating and difficult it is to be without electricity.

The ice storm caused widespread damage to transmission and distribution lines. Without power to the transmission lines, there is no power to the substations, which provide power to our service territory. As transmission lines are repaired, substations begin to receive power. The challenge is the debris, impassable roads, and hundreds of downed poles. Each pole takes hours to replace. We’ve been able to restore power to many substations as of yesterday, so that is good progress. However, the damage is so severe that the power isn’t going very far past the substation due to widespread destruction.

We have a lot of crews and linemen on our system fixing our infrastructure, and we continue to bring more help in. In many cases, trees have destroyed poles, wire, and large sections of line, which all take time to rebuild and repair. The more damage that is caused on our electric distribution system, the more time it takes to repair, which further delays when your home or business will have electricity restored.

Please know we are doing everything possible to restore power safely and efficiently to our service territory. The State of Emergency will help us significantly, but this is a multi-day outage. We cannot give exact days or hours; there are too many variables and possibly more bad weather on the way.

This ice storm system was one of the most destructive our area has ever seen, and we appreciate your understanding as we go through these unprecedented times together. Stay tuned for an updated press release.

The City of Harbor Springs says some homes and businesses could have power restored Tuesday night.

In a post on Facebook, the city said "it is looking increasingly likely that some customers on the City of HS grid will be up and running tonight. The city is working with other electric utilities to get an alternate temporary transmission line connected while other lines are being repaired."

The city's full Facebook post is below:

It is looking increasingly likely that some customers on the City of HS grid will be up and running tonight. The City is working with other electric utilities to get an alternate temporary transmission line connected while other lines are being repaired. Once the main lines are repaired and online, we will switch over from the temporary line to the main line, causing a brief temporary outage.

We are working diligently on this and hope it will come to fruition by tonight.

The City of Petoskey says power could be restored to the city in one or two days, if power restoration efforts continue moving in a positive direction.

In a post on Facebook, the city said "City line crews with assistance from Zeeland, Grand Haven and Traverse City Light and Power are assisting in the power restoration efforts."

The full statement from the City of Petoskey is below:

Power restoration to our substations is trending in a positive direction. Consumers Energy and contractors are diligently working to repair critical infrastructure. City line crews with assistance from Zeeland, Grand Haven and Traverse City Light and Power are assisting in the power restoration efforts. Our current estimate is 1-2 days before power may be restored.

If you are in need of a ride to a warming shelter and live in the City limits, please contact City Manager Shane Horn at 517-403-7610 or Public Safety Detective William Bowen at 231-330-0219. They will arrange rides to warming shelters.

The National Weather Service in Gaylord is predicting a wintry mix for Wednesday, that could complicate recovery from this weekend’s ice storms.

Andy Sullivan is a meteorologist with the NWS in Gaylord. He says this afternoon, sun could help melt ice cover in some areas impacted by the storm.

“Really devastated areas like Gaylord and north and east,” he said. “A lot of places have not lost much ice yet, but we're hopeful we'll get a lot lose some this afternoon.”

“Bright sunshine, real high sun angle, so that solar radiation is stronger this time of the year and…sunset's not until like 8-8:30 and it's going to stay pretty sunny for most of the day,” Sullivan said. “So, it's a long lasting, pretty good, sun angle. Sun should do its work a little bit.”

Still, Sullivan warned that the outlook for Wednesday could cause trees and powerlines to fall. “I'm not expecting a lot of ice, but up to around 1/10th of an inch. But anything, any extra weight on the weakened power lines, trees and whatnot, would not be good,” he said. “The main concern is the high winds, expecting winds of 30-40 miles an hour with possible higher gusts.”

Otsego County has lifted its 'shelter in place' recommendation for area residents. According to the county's Emergency Management department, main roads around Gaylord are now free of down power lines, allowing for improved access to and from the area.

The complete news release from the county is below:

Otsego County Emergency Management has announced the lifting of the shelter-in-place recommendation effective immediately. The city's main trunk lines in and out of Gaylord are now clear of downed power lines, allowing for improved access to and from the area.

Some businesses throughout Gaylord have resumed operations, providing essential supplies to residents. Emergency Management is encouraging residents to limit travel to essential purposes only as recovery efforts continue.

Key Points:

· Shelter-in-place recommendation has been lifted.

· The City of Gaylord’s main roads are clear of downed lines and are accessible.

· Some businesses are open and offering essential goods for households.

· Essential travel is still strongly advised.

· All updates will be posted to Otsego County Emergency Management Facebook page or by contacting 211

The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office also reminds all residents that traffic signals that are not functioning should be treated as four-way stops. Please exercise caution when traveling, both in and out of town, and ensure that you are driving safely.

“We are working diligently to restore full services to the community,” said Otsego County Emergency Manager. “While conditions continue to improve, we urge residents to exercise caution and limit their travel to essential needs as recovery efforts proceed.”

For more information and updates, please follow local authorities' channels or visit the Otsego County Emergency Management website.

Some Alpena Power Company customers are seeing the lights turn back on Tuesday morning.

According to the utility's online outage map, 10,618 homes and businesses were without power late Tuesday morning. That's down for a peak of over 16,000 outages.

Still, more than 122,000 homes and businesses throughout northern Michigan remain without power, as of 11:20am Tuesday morning.

Free, shelf-stable food will be distributed to anyone in need Tuesday, April 1 at the Alpena Fairgrounds. According to a post shared on the City of Alpena's Facebook page, members of the community, county officials and the Foodbank of Eastern Michigan will be on hand to distribute food.

Anyone in need is asked to go to the fairground after 11am, and to bring their own boxes and bags.

Mackinac Bridge Authority Webcam

The Mackinac Bridge closed for the second time in two days Tuesday morning, as ice began falling off the bridge onto the roadway below.

According to the Mackinac Bridge Authority, there is no estimate of when the bridge will re-open.

More wintery weather is on the way to northern Michigan, according to the National Weather Service in Gaylord.

Overnight, additional icing accumulations of 0.10 inches are possible. Most locations will also see around an inch of snow, with up to three inches possible across the eastern Upper Peninsula.

Strong winds and thunderstorms will be possible later in the day on Wednesday.

With power outages persisting across northern Michigan, we wanted to learn more about how to stay safe in your home during an extended outage.

WCMU's Tina Sawyer spoke with Traverse City fire inspector Jacob Steichen about how to stay safe during a prolonged power outage, including how to stay warm in your home.

Click here for the complete interview.

Michigan's active weather pattern is expected to return Tuesday night, after a brief hiatus during the day.

According to the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids, snow and ice will cause hazardous conditions Wednesday morning for people north of M-46, including parts of mid-Michigan, and most of northern Michigan. That includes the possibility of additional icing.

Then, Wednesday into Wednesday evening, severe thunderstorms will be possible The greatest threat will be in mid-Michigan, but strong storms and winds are also possible across northern Michigan.

The Mackinac Bridge has re-opened to all traffic, after closing early Monday afternoon due to falling ice.

Over the weekend, Interlochen Public Radio spoke with Michigan Department of Transportation spokesperson James Lake about why the bridge closes due to falling ice.

“Once that ice starts coming down from the suspender cables, from the towers, it comes down like spears into the road deck," Lake said. "Some of the pieces that come off the tower are like garage doors. And when that happens we’ll have no choice but to shut down for everyone’s safety.”

The bridge was closed for just over three hours, before reopening at 5:30pm Monday evening.

WCMU Public Media's broadcasts in northern Michigan are being impacted by this weekend's ice storm.

91.7FM and TV Channel 6, serving northeast Lower Michigan, are currently off the air due to a power outage. 95.7FM, which also serves parts of northeast Michigan, is also off the air due to a power outage.

In the Petoskey / Harbor Springs area, 103.9FM is operating at reduced power due to heavy ice accumulation on our antenna. This station was previously off the air, but is now operating on generator power.

There is no word yet on when power will be restored at all of our transmitter sites.

Customers in the Upper Peninsula are still dealing with blackouts as of Monday afternoon. The Michigan State Police said online that over 1,000 people have now power in Chippewa County, over 6,600 have no power in Mackinac County and 92 are offline in Delta.

Restoration times may be lengthy for some due to the extensive damage caused by the storm. If you are without power, please plan accordingly and take the necessary precautions to stay warm and safe. For those in need of warmth or shelter, several warming centers are available in multiple locations throughout the UP.

Cloverland Energy Cooperative represent much of the Eastern UP, they say customers should “prepare for a prolonged outage overnight.”

Cloverland Electric Cooperative spokesperson Allie Brawley doesn’t yet have a timeline for full restoration but says crews are working the maximum amount of allowed hours to restore power. “Our crews will work until the mandatory safety rest is required at 16 hours and then continue restoration efforts in the morning, but it's uncertain.”

The company says they still have over 6,000 outages and has restored over 15,000 people. They also say 6 aid crews are restoring power, and they are working to secure 3 additional crews from Canada.

Another round of wintery weather is possible Tuesday night, and much of Michigan could see severe thunderstorms on Wednesday. That's according to the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids.

Freezing rain and snow will develop Tuesday night north of I-96, and accumulations of snow and ice are possible. Precipitation will change to all rain on Wednesday, and severe thunderstorms will be possible late in the day.

Mackinac Bridge Authority Webcam

The Mackinac Bridge closed to all traffic Monday afternoon, due to falling ice.

According to the Mackinac Bridge Authority, sheets of ice as large as garage doors and chunks of ice larger than loafs of bread can fall from the bridge following ice storms, like the one that impacted northern Michigan over the weekend.

On average, falling ice closures on the Mackinac Bridge last around 5 hours. Closures have been as short as 37 minutes, and as long as 20 hours.

The Mackinac Bridge Authority is posting updates on its website. There's no word on when the bridge might reopen.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency in 10 northern Michigan counties this morning, as the region continues to struggle with major damage from a weekend ice storm.

"I’m declaring a state of emergency to get help out the door as fast as possible for Michiganders hit by the ice storm,” said Governor Whitmer. “Yesterday, I activated our State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate our response. State and local emergency teams are already on the ground, and we will continue collaborating with local first responders too. I want to thank everyone working hard to keep people safe. We will get through this together.”

The emergency declaration covers the counties of Alpena, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Presque Isle, Otsego, and Oscoda.

“We are committed to supporting Michiganders and communities who were impacted by this weekend’s severe weather,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “The State Emergency Operations Center will help us coordinate with local officials and first responders on the ground to get people the help they need. Let’s keep standing tall for each other.”

The storm has caused widespread power outages, including loss of backup generators, loss of phone and cellular services, and impassable roads due to downed trees and other debris in northern Michigan. Though response efforts are still underway, initial damage assessments indicate that residents in this region have suffered significant consequences from these conditions, requiring state assistance.

Allan Berg, the President and CEO of Presque Isle Electric and Gas Co-Op says that customers should start preparing for extended blackouts. Over 32,000 customers have no power at the moment.

"We're continuing to tell everyone to plan for a multi-day long term outage. For some of our system it's going to exceed 5 days for sure," he said. “Don't assume power is going to come on today or tomorrow, but plan for a long term.”

Berg advised those who need shelter to seek it, the company has a list on Facebook.

He says the company won’t have a good idea on a timeline for restoration until its transmission power is restored.

“As we get, the transmission back online, as we get some of our primary stuff online, we would hope to make some traction in the coming days.” He says blocked roads, and falling debris are posing some problems for restoration crews.

The Alpena Power Company said in a statement that its customers are all without electricity, affecting over 16,000 people in the Alpena area.

“As of 10:30 AM on Monday all of Alpena Power Company’s (APC) customers remain without power due to the effects of the weekend ice storms. APC is expecting to have its interconnection with the regional electric transmission system restored mid-afternoon on Monday at which point we will immediately begin restoring power to essential services.”

In a Facebook post Monday morning, Alpena City Manager Rachel Smolinski announced a warming shelter has opened at the City of Alpena Public Safety Building, 501 West Chisholm Street.

She also reiterated that all city services are functioning, and the city water and sewers are operating normally.

The full release from the City of Alpena is below:

The City of Alpena Public Safety Building at 501 West Chisholm St. is open as a warming shelter until further notice. Please come and get warm and charge your devices. We will do our best to accommodate other needs. We will also have a limited number of cots and mats available. Please come in the fromt of the building and ring the bell and you will be escorted to the shelter area. Please bring any personal items with you including bedding, toiletries, etc.

All essential City services including police, fire, DPW, and EMS are up and running. Water and sewer services are functional and the water is clean and safe to drink.
We will release more information as it is available. Thank you.

Rachel Smolinski, City Manager

Emmet County Sheriff Matt Leirstein says the sheriff's office will provide transportation to warming shelters for anyone in need.

Residents who lack basic transportation and would like to go to a warming shelter can contact the sheriff's office at 231-348-1782. Residents are advised to bring necessary accommodations, including medicine, oxygen, and extra clothing. At this time, the sheriff's office says it cannot transport pets.

The complete release from the Emmet County Sheriff's Office is below:

The Emmet County Sheriff's Office is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our residents during the current cold weather conditions. Sheriff Matt Leirstein has announced that starting at 1130 hours today the Sheriff's Office will provide transportation support for residents in need of access to warming shelters.

Residents who lack transportation or means to reach a warming station are encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (231) 348-1782. Upon contacting us, please provide your address, and we will dispatch a transport van to pick you up and deliver you to the nearest available warming shelter.

Please be aware that at this time, we are unable to transport pets. We also advise residents to bring necessary accommodations, such as medications, oxygen, and extra clothing, to ensure their comfort and health throughout their stay at the shelter.

The Emmet County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to supporting the community and ensuring that everyone has access to a safe and warm environment during these challenging weather conditions.

For more information or to request transportation, please contact the Emmet County Sheriff's Office at the number provided above.

The Michigan State Police say I-75 and M-32 are both closed in the Gaylord area due to downed wires and trees. The agency is asking everyone to not travel unless it is a true emergency.

The City of Harbor Springs is telling residents to be prepared to be without power Monday, March 31 and Tuesday, April 1. In a statement on Facebook, city officials said Sunday's severe weather hampered progress on restoring electricity.

The city's full statement is below:

Unfortunately, last night’s continuation of severe weather hampered progress on restoring power to the City’s grid. It’s likely that most City of HS electric customers will be without power today and Tuesday, April 1. We will continue keeping the warming shelter at Shay open with emergency fuel deliveries. Many area roads are still unsafe for travel, so please only travel if necessary and use extreme caution. Call 911 for emergency assistance.

Northern Michigan is still reeling from this weekend's ice storm, with more than 145,000 customers without power. Hardest hit counties include Emmet, Otsego, Alpena and Montmorency.

Statewide, more than 324,000 customers are without power. Severe thunderstorms rolled through southern and mid-Michigan Sunday evening, causing most of those outages.

Utilities say it could be several days before restoration efforts are complete.

It could be several days before power restoration efforts are complete in the City of Petoskey.

In a post on its website, the city said power feeding two substations has been disrupted, knocking out power across the city.

Petoskey's full update is below:

Electrical crews and contractors continue to work on the power outage in the City. Power that feeds two substations has been disrupted and crews have been diligently working on solutions. Consumer's Energy is on site and we will have two additional support crews from out of the area providing assistance. The power restoration process will likely take multiple days to complete. We appreciate your continued patience. When safe to do so, feel free to place limbs/brush at the curb and we will have crews cut and chip over the next few weeks until we are cleaned up. City Hall is open and available as a warming center.

The Mackinaw City Police Department is urging area residents to not travel unless absolutely necessary. In a statement Sunday night, the city said trees and powerlines were down across the region.

The full statement is below:

The Mackinaw City Police Department would like to advised residents and the surrounding area that the Church of the Straits will be open as a warming shelter. The Police Department would also like to remind everyone to stay home and not travel unless you absolutely have too. Due to the heavy ice accumulation, trees and/or power lines may be down on the roads and could be dangerous. Please be careful and stay safe.

On Sunday evening, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on X:

My heart is with everyone who has been hit hard by the recent ice storm—and with those facing ongoing severe weather across the state. I’ve activated the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate our response.

We’re assessing the damage, working with local officials, and ensuring every resource is available to help impacted communities. If you’re in an area affected by today’s storms or under a weather advisory, please stay safe, stay home if you can, and check on your loved ones.

As this weekend’s historic ice storm ends, weather officials say cold temperatures can cause new problems for those beset by power outages. Michael Boguth is with the National Weather Service in Gaylord.

He says despite ice storms slowing down, “tomorrow night we're looking at lows in the teens, so anyone without power by that time is going to have to be concerned not only about their health, but frozen pipes in their houses.”

Boguth says the storms are historic. “We don't have any type of official record database for ice storms, but, talking to the people that live up here…this is the worst event they can imagine so they've ever seen in terms of ice.”

Brian Wheeler, spokesperson with Consumers Energy, says the utility is working to restore power after this weekend’s ice storms.

“For the entire state of Michigan, because we're watching the storm that's coming through today too, we have over 600 crews that are at work across the state. Over 300 of them are working right now, specifically in northern Michigan,” he said. “We're planning to get most customers back on Tuesday, and then the hardest hit areas, the ones where we have to do some very significant repairs and rebuilding, that will take until Wednesday.”

Wheeler says Consumers has had “over 75,000 customers lose power at some point this weekend.”

The same storm system that caused a massive ice storm in northern Michigan is causing severe thunderstorms across the southern part of the state.

Severe Thunderstorm Watches have been issued for this evening for the southern half of the Lower Peninsula, Severe storms and a few tornados are expected.

The watch expires at 9pm west of US-127, and at 10pm for counties east of US-127.

Teresa Homsi / WCMU

Warming shelters have opened across northern Michigan, with more than 140,000 electric customers without power due to this weekend's ice storm.

Alpena County (Per City of Alpena)

• Alpena County Airport
• Green Township Hall

Charlevoix County (Per CCE Central Dispatch)

• 5600 North Fire Station (near Martin Road and Waller Road)
• St. Matthews Church, 1303 Boyne Ave, Boyne City
• Christ Lutheran Church, 1250 Boyne Ave, Boyne City (Per PIE&G)
• Boyne City Hall
• Lighthouse Missionary Church, East Jordan

Cheboygan County (Per CCE Central Dispatch)

• Alverno Fire Station, 5009 Orchard Beach Rd, Cheboygan
• Tuscarora Township Fire Department, 4637 Straits Highway, Indian River
• Waverly Township Hall, 111333 Twin School Rd, Onaway
• Wolverine Fire, 12958 Afton Rd, Wolverine
• Church of Straits, 307 N. Huron Ave, Mackinaw City

Emmet County (Per CCE Central Dispatch)

• Shay Elementary, 175 E. Lake St, Harbor Springs. Enter off Lake Street.
• Petoskey City Hall, Petoskey
• Ovation Hall, Odawa Casino, 1760 Lears Rd, Petoskey
• Salvation Army of Petoskey, 2350 Mitchell Park Dr, Petoskey
• Bear Creek Township Hall
• Pellston Regional Airport, 1395 US-131, Pellston

Kalkaska County (Per PIE&G)

• Excelsior Township Hall, 987 County Road 571

Montmorency County (Per PIE&G)

• Atlanta Community Schools, 10500 County Road 489, Atlanta
• Hillman Fire Hall, 131 W. 3rd St, Hillman
• St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 3060 Casey St, Lewiston

Otsego County (Per PIE&G)

• Evangelical Free Church, 1649 M-32, Gaylord
• Volunteer Fire Department, Johannesburg

Presque Isle County (Per PIE&G)

• Onaway Area: Waverly Township Hall, 42114 M-43

The City of Petoskey is completely without power, according to its Facebook page. It has also opened a warming shelter at Petoskey City Hall for anyone in need.

The city's full statement is below:

At about 8:00pm on Saturday March 29, 2025, the City of Petoskey experienced a power outage that impacted about 50% of the City and associated electrical service area. On Sunday March 30 at approximately 8:30am another substation went down resulting in total power loss in the City and associated service area. City of Petoskey Electrical Department, Consumer's Energy and contractors are diligently working on resolving the issue. There is no estimate at this time when power may be restored.

Public Works and Parks crews are working on clearing road and park hazards from falling trees and limbs, it is advisable to stay off the roadway, sidewalks, trails and parks at this time due to falling trees and limbs.

The City of Harbor Springs has opened a warming shelter at Shay Elementary, located at 175 E. Lake Street. The city is asking those needing assistance to use the Lake Street entrance.

The city has also activated its generator to provide diesel power to the middle school and fire station, according to a post on its Facebook page. The full statement is below:

Some residents and businesses near Fairview may notice their electricity returning. This is due to the City’s generator now running to provide diesel powered energy to the middle school and fire station. The electric grid is not up, but some properties will have power as long as our generators are running.

The City of Alpena posted an update on its Facebook page Sunday afternoon, after power was knocked out across much of the city by an ice storm this weekend.

According to City Manager Rachel Smolinski, residents are being encouraged to shelter in place to protect themselves from the elements. She also said crews from outside the area are being deployed to help restore power.

The full statement from the City of Alpena is below:

City offices will be closed tomorrow, March 31st.

Emergency services such as police, fire, and EMS are available as normal. The City of Alpena is encouraging residents to shelter in place in order to stay safe and protected from the elements. Please remember to stay clear of any downed power lines and utility lines. The power company is working diligently to restore services as soon as possible and resources from outside of the area have been deployed.

Currently, there are no emergency shelters established but please watch for announcements and updates as more information is available.

If you should need assistance or have an emergency, please call 911.

Thank you and stay safe.

Rachel Smolinski,
City Manager

Power is out in much of Crawford County, where ice has brought down trees and powerlines.

Consumers Energy reports over 5,000 of its customers in Crawford County, and Great Lakes Energy is reporting a similar number of outages amongst its customers.

Theresa Feldhauser sent these photos to WCMU from near Grayling:

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Ice coats trees near Gaylord, after a major ice storm hit northern Michigan on March 29 and 30, 2025.

Theresa Feldhauser of Grayling.

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Ice coats trees near Gaylord, after a major ice storm hit northern Michigan on March 29 and 30, 2025.

Theresa Feldhauser of Grayling.

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Ice coats trees near Gaylord, after a major ice storm hit northern Michigan on March 29 and 30, 2025.

Theresa Feldhauser of Grayling.

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Ice coats trees near Gaylord, after a major ice storm hit northern Michigan on March 29 and 30, 2025.

Theresa Feldhauser of Grayling.

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Ice coats trees near Gaylord, after a major ice storm hit northern Michigan on March 29 and 30, 2025.

Theresa Feldhauser of Grayling.

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Ice coats trees near Gaylord, after a major ice storm hit northern Michigan on March 29 and 30, 2025.

Theresa Feldhauser of Grayling.

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Ice coats trees near Gaylord, after a major ice storm hit northern Michigan on March 29 and 30, 2025.

Theresa Feldhauser of Grayling.

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Damage caused by a major ice storm in the Grayling area on March 30, 2025.

Theresa Feldhauser

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Damage caused by a major ice storm in the Grayling area on March 30, 2025.

Theresa Feldhauser

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Damage caused by a major ice storm in the Grayling area on March 30, 2025.

Theresa Feldhauser

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Damage caused by a major ice storm in the Grayling area on March 30, 2025.

Theresa Feldhauser

Consumers Energy says more than 600 crews are responding to power outages caused by a major ice storm that impacted northern Michigan this weekend. The company is also staging repair crews in southern and mid-Michigan, where severe weather is possible later on Sunday.

“Mother Nature has thrown a tremendous challenge at Michigan," said Norm Kapala, who is helping lead the storm response for Consumers Energy. "We’re determined to respond, to get the lights back on and to help so many communities recover.”

According to Consumers, the majority of northern Michigan's restoration is on track to be complete Tuesday, with hardest hit areas being restored on Wednesday.

The utility is asking residents to not travel unless absolutely necessary, and to watch for downed wires and crews working alongside roads.

“We appreciate the patience of our customers and applaud the hard work of our coworkers, police and fire officials, and others who are helping these communities through a difficult day,” Kapala said. “We encourage people to turn to our website, our outage map and social media channels for updates, or to call 9-1-1 if they face an immediate need.”

Consumers Energy also provided some safety tips to keep in mind as it works to restore power:

• Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines, and to report unguarded downed lines by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050.
• Be alert to crews working along roads. Drivers should slow down or stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear so they safely can go past workers on roadsides.
• Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement, enclosed patio or near any air intakes. Doing so could cause a generator to produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and deadly gas. Read more guidance on safe generator use here.

The City of Harbor Springs said on Facebook Sunday morning that power in the city could remain out for "several hours to a few days" following this weekend's ice storm.

According to the city, "the Consumers Energy line that feeds Emmet County substation coming from Gaylord is down." The city also said a 46kV transmission line from the substation to the city is also down.

Below is the full statement from the City of Harbor Springs:

Update: Power could be out for several hours to a few days. The Consumers Energy line that feeds Emmet County substation coming from Gaylord is down. A 46kV transmission from the substation to the City is also down. Several more distribution lines are down as well. City staff and emergency personnel are working on and coordinating back up and emergency plans.

Please check back for updates. Call 911 for emergencies. Stay off the roads if possible.

Several warming shelters have been opened in Montmorency and Presque Isle counties, after a major ice storm cut power to over 140,000 customers in northern Michigan this weekend.

In Montmorency County, shelters are open at:

• Lewiston Catholic Church
• Hillman Fire Hall
• Atlanta Community Schools

In Presque Isle County:

• A warming shelter is open in the Onaway area at the Forest Township Hall on M68 in Tower
• In Rogers City, a local warming shelter is staged and ready to open should the need arise.

Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op is around 32,000 power outages Sunday morning. The utility, which serves parts of northeast Michigan, released the following statement on Facebook:

The ice storm has caused significant damage. We have close to 32,000 outages in our service territory. There is severe tree damage, broken poles, and infrastructure damage. Extensive ice has taken down trees, making roads impassable. We have called in additional crews and contractors to assist us with safely restoring power to as many services as possible today. Please know that with the high winds, continued icing, and the extreme number of services affected, we expect the outage to extend into at least Monday, if not longer. Please plan accordingly. Your patience and understanding is greatly appreciated, thank you.

Safety Reminders:

Generator safety is important during long storms. Ensure that the generator is connected legally using a transfer switch that doesn’t back feed into powerlines and harm workers.
Stay at least 25 feet away from any downed powerline, tree, or other equipment, as they could be energized.

According to the National Weather Service in Gaylord, ice accumulations near their office range from half an inch to nearly an inch of ice. Widespread power outages are being reported across northern Michigan.

Emmet County Sheriff Matt Leirstein is urging area residents to limit their travel and remain home unless its an emergency, after severe icing left much of the county without power Sunday morning.

According to the sheriff's department, several warming shelters have been opened for those in need, including:

• Odawa Casino Ovation Hall
• Salvation Army Building in Petoskey
• Church of the Straits in Mackinaw City

The sheriff's office also released the following statement on Facebook on Sunday morning:

Emmet County Sheriff Matt Leirstein has issued a public advisory in response to the severe ice storm that has impacted our region. The Sheriff's Office is actively working to clear roadways of downed trees and debris and will continue these efforts to ensure public safety.

Residents are urged to limit travel and remain in their homes unless it is an emergency. The Sheriff's Office is aware that a significant portion of the county is without power, and we are diligently working with emergency management to locate and establish warming shelters for those in need.

As we receive more information, it will be relayed to the public. For now, Sheriff Leirstein encourages everyone to stay in contact with family, friends, neighbors, and loved ones to check on their wellbeing during this trying time. If emergency services are needed, please contact 911 immediately.

The Emmet County Sheriff's Office is actively patrolling the area; however, response times may be delayed due to obstacles such as downed trees and power lines. We urge all residents to exercise caution and prioritize their safety.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we navigate these challenging conditions. Please stay vigilant and safe.

More than 146,000 electric customers were without power Sunday morning as a devastating ice storm continues to impact northern Michigan.

That includes more than 43,900 Great Lakes Energy Customers. The utility released the following statement on Facebook on Sunday morning:

Due to a major ice storm, more than 43,900 Great Lakes Energy (GLE) members in nine counties are without power today. The number of members without power rose significantly overnight after reports of falling trees and extensive damage to power lines due to the heavy ice. Since the storm began late yesterday, more than 30,000 members have already had their power restored with many losing power again after restoration took place.

GLE expects that restoration efforts will take multiple days. Damage to the cooperative’s electric infrastructure is extensive with many broken poles and downed wires. Heavy ice has brought down trees both into powerlines and in roadways making them impassable in some locations. GLE line crews are working in conjunction with contractors and neighboring cooperative utility assistance to restore power safely. Tree trimming crews have also been called in to aid in the effort.

Generator safety is important during long storms by ensuring that the generator is connected legally using a transfer switch that doesn’t backfeed into powerlines and harm workers. Stay at least 25 feet away from any downed powerline, tree, or other equipment as they could be energized.

If power is not restored by 10 p.m. tonight and is required, members should seek alternate arrangements.

Great Lakes Energy members can report their power outage through their online account, on the Great Lakes Energy app, or by calling 888-485-2537. Visit gtlakes.com/power-outages/ for updates.

Power is out for over 120,000 electric customers in northern Michigan, and many roads are impassable after a major ice storm impacted the region this weekend.

Ice Storm Warnings remain in effect until noon Sunday for northern Lower Michigan, and Winter Storm Warnings are posted for the eastern Upper Peninsula through this evening.

Parts of the northeast, including Alpena, Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Otsego counties, are largely in the dark as power companies scramble to respond to thousands of power outages. Law enforcement is urging people to shelter in place to protect themselves from falling trees, and to stay off the roads if at all possible.

In Alpena County, their 911 / Emergency Management Department posted on Facebook overnight that the ice storm was causing "chaos" throughout the region, including with their phones. The county is operating on backup phone systems, and is urging everyone to stay home for the time being.

According to the National Weather Service in Gaylord, significant impacts are expected to continue throughout the day today.

Law enforcement officials across the region are urging residents to stay home and shelter in place, so that emergency responders can clear roads and address downed power lines.

Ice is coating not only trees and power lines across northern Michigan, but also the Mackinac Bridge itself. And that could lead to bridge closures once the ice starts to fall.

By Saturday morning, ice was already forming on the bridge, and officials warned on X that motorists should be prepared for potential falling ice closures in the coming days.

According to the Mackinac Bridge Authority, sheets of ice as large as garage doors can fall from the flat surfaces on the bridge towers, and chunks of ice formed on the upper cables can fall hundreds of feet onto the roadway. Both bridge authority and private vehicles have been damaged by ice in the past.

The bridge authority says it can't predict when falling ice may start or stop, but it will post updates on its website and X to keep travelers apprised of current conditions on the bridge.

With more than 100,000 electric customers in northern Michigan without power, the Michigan Public Service Commission is urging area residents to keep their distance from downed power lines, and notify authorities as soon as possible.

The Michigan State Police is urging Otsego County residents to stay home. Dangerous travel conditions are being reported throughout the county.

In a Facebook post late Saturday night, the Harbor Springs Police Department said power was out throughout the city, as well as phone lines to the police department. The department is urging all residents to stay home, as fallen trees and power lines have created dangerous conditions throughout Harbor Springs.

Significant icing is being reported in Montmorency County, where emergency managers are encouraging residents to shelter in place due to the danger posed by falling trees.

As of early Sunday morning, more than 100,000 electric customers in northern Michigan were without power, including nearly all of the Alpena Power Company's service area.

Alpena Power Company was reporting 16,386 customers without power, which makes up over 97% of its customers.

Presque Isle Electric & Gas customers were also hard hit, with 27,554 outages reported. Great Lakes Energy and Consumers Energy were reporting around 37,000 outages a piece.