Wild weather havoc in US: Freezing rain knocks out power in Michigan and Wisconsin, tornado threat looms in Tennessee
Wild weather brought havoc in Michigan and Wisconsin as freezing rain damaged trees and electricity lines, leaving many residents without power on Sunday in the upper Great Lakes area. Meanwhile, forecasters warned Tennessee about approaching severe weather conditions.
The National Weather Service predicted winds reaching up to 70 mph (112 kph) in central Tennessee, with potential tornadoes and hail measuring up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) on Sunday evening.
“As you can see, storms today will develop by early afternoon for some, but the threat will linger into the overnight hours for others. Plan your day or night accordingly, to be ready in case a warning is issued for your area,” said the forecasters on X .
Approximately 200,000 homes experienced power outages across Michigan and Wisconsin. Local facilities including churches, schools and fire stations were converted to warming shelters whilst utility companies worked to restore power, expecting work to continue into Monday in remote areas, as reported by the Associated Press.
The Weather Service office in Gaylord, Michigan, reported on X: “Accumulations range here from a half inch to nearly a whole inch of ice!”
Ryan Brege, managing director of the Alpena County, Michigan, Road Commission, noted that despite the calendar indicating spring, “it’s still winter.”
Located 250 miles (402 kilometers) north of Detroit, a county emergency response organisation reported ongoing disruption from the ice storm, with telephone service disruptions and roads blocked by fallen trees.
South Carolina officials reported advancement in controlling wildfires in the Blue Ridge mountains on Sunday. The Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge fires affected approximately 17 square miles (44 square kilometers). Some Greenville County residents faced mandatory evacuation orders on Saturday.
“Thank you for the prayers. They’re being heard. There’s rain in the air,” said Derrick Moore, operations chief for the firefighting Southern Area Blue Team.