SW Mich. hit hard by severe storms

SCHOOLCRAFT, Mich. (WOOD) - Strong storms mixed with heavy winds and large amounts of rain and even hail caused a lot of damage in southwest Michigan late Monday night and early Tuesday morning.

The first line of storms rolled into the area around 11:30 p.m. and followed a path from Dowagiac to Vicksburg.

Midwest Energy Cooperative said 7,000 of its customers were without power in the area at the peak of the storm. The majority of the affected areas were Three Rivers, Marcellus, Mendon, Schoolcraft and Dowagiac. The power was restored late Wednesday night.

Consumers Energy said 9,700 of its customers were without power in the area at the peak of the storm. Electricity was restored Tuesday night.

Police urged drivers in southern Kalamazoo County to take extreme caution as there were several live power lines down across roads.

The strong winds tipped over a semi-truck as its driver was asleep in the rig at a business on U.S. 131 in Schoolcraft. The driver, Alan Cowherd, who was not injured, said he thinks it was a tornado.

Storm Team 8 said wind gusts reached as high as 72 miles per hour in Schoolcraft during the storm.

The storms caused damage to some businesses in the 15000 block of U.S. 131 in Schoolcraft. Dozens of fifth-wheel campers were damaged at Cloverleaf RV and Self Storage. A building was damaged at nearby Modern Marine, Inc.

Power lines across some railroad tracks caused a train to stop its trek in the Schoolcraft area.

The strong winds also toppled a silo in Vicksburg.