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Storm leaves 365,000 without power in metro Detroit

One man died from a downed power line after a thunderstorm rumbled through the metro Detroit area overnight and left thousands of Michigan residents without power.
lightning power outage

(CNN) — One man died from a downed power line after a thunderstorm rumbled through the metro Detroit area overnight and left thousands of Michigan residents without power.

The man was killed Friday night in the Detroit suburb of Warren after being electrocuted by a fallen power line in his backyard, according to CNN affiliate WDIV-TV. The victim did not realize the wire was down, the TV station said.

DTE Energy said wind gusts as high as 75 mph downed more than 2,000 power lines across southeastern Michigan.

The utility reported 365,000 customers without electricity as of 6 a.m. Saturday, down from 385,000 at the height of the outage.

Damage assessments were still under way Saturday morning, but DTE said 300 workers from utilities in Ohio, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania were helping with the extensive repair work.

“Given the size of this storm some customers could be affected for several days,” the utility said on its website, adding “our work crews are working 16 hour shifts around the clock to restore service.”

The same storm system that caused the extensive power outages in Michigan is moving through the Northeast on Saturday. Areas from eastern Pennsylvania all the way north to Maine could see powerful winds and large hail, said CNN meteorologist Todd Borek.

There’s also a small chance for an isolated tornado, he said, but hail and damaging winds are the main threat.

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