Power outages linger, possible tornado probed in Lenawee after weekend storms

The National Weather Service sent a team Monday to Lenawee County to investigate whether Sunday night's storms spawned a tornado in the area.

A team surveyed a destroyed barn near Blissfield "to double check," meteorologist Andrew Arnold said. More information was expected later Monday.

Now the region is set for calmer and noticeably cooler conditions through mid-week.

The National Weather Service's Northern Indiana post, which covers some areas of southern Michigan, had initially reported a tornado touched down in Coldwater, Michigan, in Branch County.

"Both of the spotters indicated they saw power flashes, and one mentioned seeing debris flying. It was dark at the time of the reports, and that made it difficult to determine any details," NWS said. "However, despite rotation on radar at the time and a favorable environment for tornado development, we have not yet received any significant damage reports from the area or even additional verification of the tornado."

Meteorologist Kyle Brown said after investigators surveyed the area Monday, the agency is "confident" the damage in Coldwater came from straight-line winds, not a tornado.

Meanwhile, thousands of people across the state were still without power late Monday following the first strong storms of the summer season.

DTE Energy reported 25,193 customers without power late Monday.

Consumers Energy said 7,734 customers were without power.

Both utilities warned residents about coming close to downed power lines.

Sunday's heat helped fire off a series of storms, and few southeast Michigan communities were spared: from Monroe County to Washtenaw, Wayne, Oakland, Livingston, Hillsdale and Lenawee counties, city after city felt the effects of the first storms of the summer.

Adrian, Flat Rock, Ypsilanti, Trenton, Belleville, Brooklyn, Dixboro, Detroit, Hillsdale, Taylor, Greenfield Village, Salem, Whitmore Lake, Canton Township, Dearborn, Northville, Livonia and Novi were among the areas to receive warnings that carried the threat of hail, tornadoes and flash flooding.

Wind damage was reported in Temperance and Dundee in Monroe County, with trees down around Morocco and Douglas roads, Albain and Douglas roads, and Day and Plank roads.

High winds toppled trees in Oakland and Lenawee counties.

Early Tuesday, wind gusts as high as 43 mph were reported at Detroit City Airport and in Pontiac, according to the weather service website.

More:Tornado sweeps through suburban Chicago, causing damage

Interstate 94 at Nine Mile closed overnight for about three hours due to flooding. The Michigan Department of Transportation reopened the freeway around 4:30 a.m.

In Lenawee County on Sunday, estimated 2.75 inch hail was reported in Hudson.

Areas Downriver and in Monroe County, including Grosse Ile, Gibraltar, Riverview, Newport, Estral Beach, Toledo Beach, Erie, South Rockwood, Woodland Beach, Stony Point, Bolles Harbor, Samaria and Azalia were affected by the storm, the weather service said.

A low-pressure system was accompanied by a cold front and then a warm front to the south in the state that helped the thunderstorms form, said Megan Varcie, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service station in White Lake Township.

The National Weather Service predicts temperatures dropping into the 40s overnight.

"There could be a possibility those dip into the upper 30s at the lowest in some spots," Arnold said.

On Tuesday, the mercury is expected to reach the low 70s. The average high for the date is in the low 80s, weather service records show.

After lows in the 50s, Wednesday could top out in the mid-70s.

The readings "are much below normal for this time of year," Arnold said.

The thermometer is set to rebound into the 80s by Thursday.

Staff Writers Mark Hicks and Candice Williams contributed to this report.