In Michigan and Wisconsin, freezing rain coated roads, toppled trees, and brought down power lines, leaving thousands without power in the upper Great Lakes region over the weekend. Meanwhile, weather forecasts indicated that severe weather conditions were brewing for Tennessee.
Forecasters from the National Weather Service warned middle Tennessee residents about imminent severe weather, including winds potentially surpassing 70 mph (112 kph), the possibility of tornadoes, and hail measuring up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) in diameter on Sunday night. The advisory stressed the importance of preparedness, suggesting that individuals have safe spaces ready in case of emergency.
As of Sunday, more than 400,000 power outages were registered in areas spanning Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Communities responded by converting churches, schools, and fire halls into warming stations. Utility companies raced to restore power, a task expected to extend into early next week in smaller communities and rural regions.
Amid this widespread power disruption, the Gaylord, Michigan, office of the Weather Service reported significant ice build-up, noting accumulations ranging from half an inch to nearly a full inch. Despite the spring season, severe winter weather persisted, a fact highlighted by Ryan Brege, the managing director of Alpena County’s Road Commission, located approximately 250 miles (402 kilometers) north of Detroit.
Nearly all 16,750 customers of Alpena Power—both residential and commercial—found themselves without electricity. Many churches, unable to hold regular services due to the outages, reached out with well-wishes, as exemplified by Calvary Lutheran Church in Merrill, Wisconsin, which urged its congregation to remain safe.
Jesika Fox recounted her efforts with her husband to procure fuel for a generator, after losing power at their home in Alpena, Michigan. Their strategy involved using a fan to distribute heat from a gas-burning stove. During their outing, they witnessed the aftermath of the severe weather, including damage to a veterinary clinic struck by a falling tree.
Sarah Melching, overseeing emergency services for neighboring Presque Isle County, reported that nearly the entire county, home to around 13,200 residents, was without power. She described conditions as unforgiving, with trees continuously falling.
In a different part of the country, South Carolina authorities made significant headway on Sunday in combating wildfires in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge fires, which encompassed an area of approximately 17 square miles (44 square kilometers), prompted mandatory evacuations in Greenville County. Derrick Moore, operations chief for the Southern Area Blue Team, expressed gratitude for prayers and optimism, noting signs of rain in the forecast that could aid firefighting efforts.