Over 16,000 Lose Power in Detroit as 60 MPH Winds Sweep Through

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More than 16,000 DTE customers across the metro Detroit area were left without power on Friday morning as high winds of up to 60 miles per hour swept through the region. The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning until 10 p.m. Friday, warning that the strong winds could lead to downed trees and power lines, causing widespread outages. Additional snow is also expected this weekend, with around 1 inch forecast for Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Why it matters

Power outages can pose serious risks to public safety, especially for vulnerable populations, and can disrupt daily life and commerce. The combination of high winds and winter weather also creates hazardous driving conditions that can impact transportation and emergency response. This event highlights the need for continued investment in grid resilience and preparedness for extreme weather in the Detroit metro area.

The details

DTE Energy, the main utility provider in the Detroit region, reported that over 16,000 of its customers were without power as of Friday morning due to the high winds. The National Weather Service warned that winds would steadily reach 25 miles per hour with gusts up to 60 miles per hour throughout the day. Forecasters said the strong winds would likely lead to downed tree limbs and power lines, causing widespread outages. An additional round of snow is expected Saturday night into Sunday morning, with around 1 inch of accumulation predicted for the Detroit area.

• The high wind warning is in effect until 10 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2026.
• Snow is expected to fall in the Detroit area on Saturday night, March 14, 2026, into Sunday morning, March 15, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The National Weather Service will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on the expected snowfall and potential for additional power outages over the weekend.