Thousands remain without power after overnight storms, some crews sent home to rest (2024)

Published: Jul. 27, 2021 at 5:13 AM CDT|Updated: Jul. 27, 2021 at 9:55 PM CDT

NORTHEAST WISCONSIN (WBAY) - UPDATE 9:45 p.m. Utility companies are continuing to restore power to thousands of people across Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula during the overnight hours Tuesday and into Wednesday.

Strong storms moved through the region starting on Monday night, and continued overnight into Tuesday.

Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) says it has restored service to more than 62,000 customers since storms began to affect customers at 10 p.m. Monday. As of 9:30 p.m., the company’s online outage map showed most of the outages were to the north of Green Bay, however some outages were also reported in Brown, Door, Marathon and Portage Counties. The company said as of that time, a total of 22,713 WPS customers were still in the dark.

The company says its crews will continue to work overnight to restore service, and announced earlier in the evening that additional outside crews have been brought in to help with repairs and outages.

Customers can check the repair status of outages, as well as report one, by clicking here.

We Energies says crews are also working to repair widespread outages in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. According to the company’s outage map, a total of 4,701 customers were without power in those areas, while another 102 customers are still in the dark in southern Wisconsin.

We Energies can check the status of power restoration in their area by clicking here, and then zooming in to your region and clicking on the outage area.

Oconto Electric Cooperative says they have restored power to an additional 700 members as of 9 p.m. Tuesday, adding there are still 1,250 customers without power. At one point, the company stated there were 3,700 customers without power due to the storms.

Although crews are being sent home to rest, the company says they will be back out early Wednesday morning.

All power companies are asking and thanking customers for their patience as crews work to restore electricity.

More strong to severe storms are expected to move through the region on Wednesday. You can find the latest forecast in the link below.

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: https://www.wbay.com/weather/

SEND US PHOTOS AND VIDEOS: https://www.wbay.com/community/user-content/

GET AND LEARN ABOUT THE FIRST ALERT WEATHER APP: https://www.wbay.com/page/get-our-weather-apps/

UPDATE 7:45 p.m. - Crews are still working to restore power to thousands of customers across Wisconsin after storms rolled through during the overnight hours Monday night and into Tuesday.

According to the Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) outage map, there were more than 670 outages affecting more than 23,300 customers across their coverage area Tuesday evening.

Outages are reported in more than a dozen counties, with the most customers being affected in Forest, Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties.

Early Tuesday evening, company officials stated crews had restored power to more than 50,000 customers since Monday evening, adding the areas currently affected most by the outages include the Rhinelander, Tomahawk, Wabeno and Minocqua.

The company states all available crews will work around the clock to restore service to customers, adding that crews have found significant damage such as broken utility poles, as well as downed lines and trees which fell onto electric equipment. WPS says additional outside crews have been brought in to help with repairs and outages.

Customers are reminded to stay at least 25 feet away from a downed line, and to report the line to either WPS or a local law enforcement agency.

WPS is expected to issue another update at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Customers can check the repair status of outages, as well as report one, by clicking here.

Meanwhile, as of Tuesday evening officials with Oconto Electric Cooperative say there are still nearly 2,000 customers without power, and due to safety reasons and workers needing sleep, they will be pulling crews off at 9 p.m.

Company officials say they will be back out early Wednesday to restore power to those who are still in the dark, adding additional crews will be assisting them.

At one point, the company stated there were 3,700 customers without power due to the storms.

We Energies’ outage map shows there are a total of 5,203 customers without power in northeast and northern Wisconsin, as well as Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. There are an additional 319 customers without power in southern Wisconsin.

The company says customers out of service are in Brown, Calumet, Florence, Forest, Marinette, Menominee, Outagamie, Shawano, Vilas, Waupaca, Winnebago, Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha Counties in Wisconsin. There are also outages reported in Baraga, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton and Ontonagon Counties in Michigan.

We Energies can check the status of power restoration in their area by clicking here, and then zooming in to your region and clicking on the outage area.

More strong to severe storms are expected to move through the region on Wednesday. You can find the latest forecast in the link below.

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: https://www.wbay.com/weather/

SEND US PHOTOS AND VIDEOS: https://www.wbay.com/community/user-content/

RELATED: Peshtigo homeowner says storm damage looks like a ‘torpedo had hit a ship’

INITIAL REPORT 5:15 a.m.: There are reports of damage, downed trees and thousands of power outages after strong storms moved through the area overnight.

Wisconsin Public Service listed about 36,000 customers without power Tuesday afternoon. We Energies lists about 10,000 customers without power.

Oconto Electric Cooperative reported hundreds of outages and urged people to stay away from downed trees and lines.

“We are slowly getting power back on for our members. We still have 2,800 members out. We have four linemen from Adams-Columbia Cooperative here now to help our existing crews that have been out since 12:30 this morning. The storm has blown a lot of trees onto the lines, or taken the lines right down. This all takes time. Please be patient. We do not have an ETA for any specific area at this time.”

Oconto Fire and Rescue responded to 11 calls over a five-hour period. The calls includes fallen trees, power lines and a small fire.

“First Alert Vipir Max detected winds 65-85 mph as storms rolled through Menominee and Oconto Counties last night!! You may be waking up to some storm damage today after a round of early morning severe weather. A 77 mph wind gust near Mountain (Oconto Co)... and a gust of 61 mph reported at the airport in Green Bay,” says First Alert Meteorologist David Ernst.

Menominee Tribe government offices will be closed Tuesday due to storm damage and power outages. The Tribe says work is underway to clear the debris and restore power on the reservation.

Action 2 News viewer Jon Kukuk shared photos of a tree through his home.

Action 2 News viewer Staci Rush sent us photos of trees uprooted in Algoma.

“After strong-to-severe storms overnight, another round of thunderstorms will track through central/eastern Wisconsin this morning,” says First Alert Meteorologist David Ernst. “These storms could also be strong with gusty winds, small hail, and heavy rain. Storms should hang on through mid-morning, but we’ll be drying out by the lunch hour. Only a stray shower or storm would be expected for the rest of the day.”

FIRST ALERT FORECAST: https://www.wbay.com/weather/

SEND US PHOTOS AND VIDEOS: https://www.wbay.com/community/user-content/

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