MARQUETTE - High winds toppled trees Friday night from the Keweenaw Peninsula to Manistique, causing limited power outages in some places and traffic hazards in others.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service Office in Negaunee Township predicted low pressure over Lake Superior was to slowly move away from the region overnight, with the winds subsiding after midnight.
The blustery storm, which also packed rain showers over some areas including Marquette, produced high wind warnings Friday for the Copper Country with strong and potentially damaging winds in Alger and Keweenaw counties.
Michigan State Police at the Negaunee post received several reports of downed trees on power lines related to the weather.
"The biggest problem is just the wind," Sgt. Joe O'Hagan said.
A couple of power line fires were reported. One from Alger County near Sand River and another from Marquette County Road KK near Big Bay. In the city of Negaunee, electricity was out with the traffic signals malfunctioning along U.S. 41.
In addition, a 60-foot pine tree dropped across M-95 in Marquette County near a roadside park along the Michigamme River. Police said a local resident cut some pieces out of the tree to help traffic pass and road commission crews were called out to remove the rest of the tree.
The Alger County Sheriff's Office reported trees were down in many places, causing power outages and blocking traffic in some area. The electricity was reported out in scattered locations from AuTrain to Munising Township to Sixteenmile Lake.
In Marquette, the winds pushed high waves up on Lake Superior that crashed over rocks piled along Lakeshore Boulevard. At Picnic Rocks, motorists lined up in parked cars to watch the furious swells move along the beach.
John Pepin can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. His e-mail address is jpepin@miningjournal.net.