MARQUETTE, MI-- Gusting winds wreaked havoc in the U.P. Tuesday, blowing down trees, tearing off roofs and leaving thousands without power at various points.
The National Weather Service in Marquette says a gust of 53 miles per hour was recorded in Grand Marais around 8:30 a.m. The Mackinac Bridge was closed to all vehicles except for cars, passenger vans, and empty pickup trucks as winds blew across the span in excess of 50 miles per hour.
Students from Marquette Senior High School and Bothwell Middle School were released early as portions of the Bothwell roof were blown off. Toppled trees also cut power to buildings and traffic lights in the downtown Marquette area.
As of 5 p.m. about 500 UPPCO customers were still without power from the Keweenaw to Munising; the Marquette Board of Light and Power was working to restore electricity to scores of residents from Ishpeming Township to Harvey and Skandia; and crews are expected to work through the night to restore power to more than 5,200 Cloverland Electric customers.
A wind advisory is in effect for the entire U.P. through 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 8.
