Detroit, MI – Drivers across southeast Michigan could face dangerous crosswinds and falling tree limbs as powerful winds ramp up early Friday morning and persist through the evening commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Detroit/Pontiac, a High Wind Warning will take effect at 5 a.m. Friday and remain in place until 10 p.m. Friday. Southwest winds are expected to increase to 20 to 30 mph with widespread gusts between 50 and 60 mph across much of the region.
The warning covers a large stretch of southeast Michigan including Detroit, Ann Arbor, Flint, Pontiac, Warren, Midland, Bay City, Saginaw, Monroe, Port Huron, and Adrian. Wind gusts near 60 mph are capable of snapping large branches, toppling trees, and damaging power lines, raising the potential for widespread outages affecting tens of thousands of homes and businesses.
Travel may become especially hazardous on exposed highways including I-75, I-94, I-69, and U.S. 23 where strong crosswinds could push trucks, buses, and RVs out of lanes. Bridge decks and open rural roads across Thumb communities like Bad Axe, Sandusky, and Caro may experience the strongest gusts.
Residents are urged to secure loose outdoor items, charge devices ahead of possible outages, and avoid parking vehicles under trees. Officials recommend staying indoors and away from windows during peak winds. The warning remains active through 10 p.m. Friday as the powerful windstorm moves across southeast Michigan.
