Wind whips Lake Michigan's waters, blasts inland leaving 17,000 powerless

October 01, 2011|WSBT-TV Report

Photo Courtesy of ALYSSA CORWIN

Intense winds coming off Lake Michigan Friday knocked out power to more than 17,000 I&M/AEP customers in a six-county Michiana area. A half-dozen schools closed for lack of power.

Brisk northwest winds, gusting to 25 mph inland Friday will push in cooler temps. Friday’s high will be in the mid-50s. Chilly is the word Friday night with lows in the upper 30s with winds at 15 mph.

Impact:

More than 17,000 electric customers lost their service as winds picked up. As of 12 a.m. Saturday, Berrien County had the largest number of power-less customers, 8,316. Indiana Michigan Power/AEP, Midwest Energy Cooperative and NIPSCO are all reporting power outages. Restoration efforts in areas around northern Berrien County and Van Buren County will continue through the weekend. Service to customers in southern Berrien County is expected to be restored by 3 p.m. Saturday.

Area I&M customers without power as of 12 a.m. Saturday:

LaPorte County: 368

Berrien County: 8,316

Cass County: 257

Van Buren County: 955

Drivers of high-profile vehicles (vans, SUVs, etc.) should use extreme caution on the Indiana Toll Road. Wind will make driving difficult and dangerous. The Indiana State Police-Toll Road have banned triple-trailers and semis with long doubles between the South Bend West Toll Plaza and the WestPoint Toll Plaza (to the Chicago Skyway). The ban is expected to remain until at least 2 p.m. Friday.

Watches/Warnings:

Gale Warning: In effect until 2 a.m. EDT Saturday. Winds: Northwest gales to 35 knots with gusts to 40 knots through evening. A gradual decrease is expected through the overnight. Waves: Waves 10 to 20 feet...subsiding to around 10 feet overnight. A gale warning means winds of 34 to 47 knots are imminent or occurring. Precautionary/preparedness actions: Operating a vessel in gale conditions requires experience and properly equipped vessels. It is highly recommended that mariners without the proper experience seek safe harbor prior to the onset of gale conditions.

Lakeshore Flood Warning remains in effect until 4 p.m. Friday. High waves will cause beach erosion and road flooding. Waves building to 22 feet. Bouys are showing around 15 foot waves as of 7 a.m. Friday.

Rip Current Alert for Lake Michigan remains in effect through Friday night.

CLICK HERE to see watches/warnings areas ... and StormTracker Radar

CLICK HERE to see National Weather Service Bouy Center Data

CLICK HERE to see National Weather Service Wave Data

WSBT Meteorologist Erik Larson’s weekend forecast:

Saturday: Mostly sunny and cool. High 56. North winds to 15 mph. Sunday: Still cool, but mostly sunny. Low 36; High 65. Weather for the start of the work week will be seasonable and sunny. Low 47; High 68.

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