Consumers Energy is conducting a major response to a wave of punishing thunderstorms that carried high winds and caused power outages across the southern half of the Lower Peninsula. The around-the-clock work joins an already full-throttle effort to restore power after two waves of weekend storms delivered an inch of ice and caused devastation in the Northern Lower Peninsula.

“This weekend has showcased all of the unpredictable weather that Michigan experiences. The good news is that Consumers Energy was prepared, and we have over 600 crews that are working to restore power across the state,” said Chris Fultz, one of Consumers Energy’s officers in charge for this storm response.

While the Northern Michigan storms brought ice, this afternoon and evening storms featured reports of tornadoes, gusts that may have topped 70 mph and thunderstorms that knocked down trees. Consumers Energy pre-staged its own crews, plus those from Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois.

The majority of Northern Michigan's restoration is on track to be complete Tuesday, and the hardest hit areas Wednesday. With the severe weather we experienced Sunday evening, the crews that were pre-staged are now responding and will continue until the power is restored.