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Posted on Wed, Nov 9, 2011 : 5:04 p.m.

Winds bring down trees, cause scattered power outages in Ann Arbor area

By Cindy Heflin

wiresdown.jpg

Ypsilanti firefighters respond to a house in the 200 block of Cross Street, where a small fire began because live wires were blown down by the wind onto a house and tree.

Jeff Sanilar | AnnArbor.com

High winds have brought down branches and power lines in several parts of Washtenaw County Wednesday afternoon, but the worst is yet to come.

A wind advisory remains in effect until 11 p.m., and National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Cook said the worst of the winds will arrive between 5 and 8 p.m.

The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office had taken at least four reports of trees or limbs down as of 4:30 p.m., including one in which a limb hit a car, causing damage, at North Territorial and Donovan roads in Webster Township. The Washtenaw County Road Commission had been called out to deal with downed trees, a dispatcher with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office said.

Wires also were reported down on Barker Road near Whitmore Lake Elementary School in Northfield Township and near Erickson School in Ypsilanti Township.

Wires were down on Hitchingham Road between Textile and Merritt in Ypsilanti Township shortly before 6 p.m.. Crews were being dispatched to the location to direct traffic, according to reports.

A power outage at the Superior Township branch of the Ypsilanti District Library caused the building to be closed for the remainder of the night just after 6 p.m.

The DTE Energy power outage map showed scattered outages around Washtenaw County. DTE spokesman John Austerberry said the utility was prepared to respond to outages as they occur throughout the night.

The National Weather Service said winds could gust to 45 to 50 mph this evening and the area will experience sustained winds of 25 to 30 mph. Wind gusts could make driving high-profile vehicles like vans and SUVs difficult.

Once the winds die down around 11 p.m., they’ll leave behind much colder air. Low temperatures will drop into the low to mid-30s tonight, and the high Thursday will only climb into the low to mid-40s. The day could also bring a wintry mix of rain and snow.

For updated conditions and forecasts throughout the day, check AnnArbor.com's weather page.

Comments

canadafua2

Sat, Nov 12, 2011 : 3:13 a.m.

sounds like the WCRC needs some help cleaning up those trees that had fallen on the road. I reammber one storm a year ago i talk to a kid well he was 17 but he had a red truck with lights on it and he was clearing the road because the county wasn't there yet and he said he was doing it for fun but he also said he was doing it to give back he cleared trees all night and that storm wasn't his first clean up he said. I think we need more people like that to take care of our roads.

Cindy Heflin

Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 12:32 p.m.

Rodney T: A file photo was used to accompany this article when it was first posted, but as you can see it was updated with a photo shot Wednesday in Ypsilanti. Townie: I don't know what you're referring to when you say "articles written elsewhere and posted here." Our reporters are on the scene every day at events in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and other communities in Washtenaw County. And new articles are posted throughout the day.

Jeff Renner

Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 5:41 p.m.

Marilyn - I suspect you are thinking of Leisa Thompson, a very talented photojournalist.

Marilyn Wilkie

Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 1:41 p.m.

Cindy, some people can't seem to think up anything to say about the news at hand so they just grouse about the site. I suppose they think they could do better. But I do wish that there was some way for your photographers to get credit for their photographs in the article. Or am I missing that? The Ann Arbor News was very good about that. There was one young woman that took outstanding photographs.

ypsicat

Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 2:35 a.m.

Stock photos, stock terms (wintry mix).

Townie

Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 1:17 a.m.

This is AA.com; don't expect more. It's articles written elsewhere and posted here, old pictures, old news (how many times to you see yesterday's weather or traffic conditions still showing like they're current items 12 hours later?). Slowly circling the drain...

Morris Thorpe

Thu, Nov 10, 2011 : 12:16 a.m.

Wait, you have a photo of a "recent windy day" to illustrate the story? That's not right on several levels. I've noticed an increase of stock or archived images by a2.com. The only use of archive photography for a news organization, in my opinion, should be for people and - occasionally - places.