As winter’s grip tightens across the Midwest, thousands of residents in Michigan and Illinois found themselves plunged into darkness over the weekend, grappling with widespread power outages that disrupted daily routines and left utility crews racing against the elements. The outages, driven by a relentless combination of ice storms and high winds, underscored the vulnerability of regional infrastructure when nature decides to flex its muscles.
In Michigan, the trouble began on Friday, December 26, 2025, when an ice storm swept through the state, coating trees, power lines, and just about every exposed surface with up to 0.16 of an inch of ice. According to poweroutage.com, the immediate aftermath was severe: nearly 90,000 Consumers Energy customers lost power, and the company dispatched 500 crews to begin restoration efforts. By Sunday afternoon, December 28, the situation was still far from resolved. As of 3:30 p.m., nearly 30,826 electric customers remained without power, the majority clustered in mid-Michigan between Saginaw Bay, Cadillac, and Big Rapids.
Consumers Energy, the state’s largest utility, reported 21,444 customers still in the dark as of Sunday, with outages primarily attributed to equipment issues and downed trees. The company, bracing for another round of harsh weather, announced it would mobilize another 500 power crews Sunday night in anticipation of a new storm system expected to bring even more trouble. "Strong to Damaging wind gusts upwards of 55 mph possible tomorrow," the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids warned on December 28 via X (formerly Twitter). "These winds will bring snow, blowing and drifting snow with visibilities down to 1/4 mile at times. Best time is 3 AM to 6 AM. Downed tree limbs along with scattered power outages are possible."
The forecast was grim: up to two feet of snow expected in parts of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and winds topping 50 mph across the state. The National Weather Service emphasized that the worst conditions would likely hit during the early morning hours of December 29, with the potential for already battered communities to face renewed outages and hazardous travel.
Some areas were hit harder than others. Mecosta County, for example, saw 8,267 Consumers Energy customers without power as of Sunday afternoon—an astonishing 33% of the county. Other utilities were also grappling with the fallout: DTE reported 5,655 customers out, with 3,639 affected in Oakland County. HomeWorks Tri-County Electric, while smaller in scale, had the highest percentage of customers impacted, with 13.3%—or 3,680 customers—still without electricity. Restoration times remained elusive, with utilities unable to provide clear estimates as crews worked around the clock.
The outages were not confined to Michigan. In neighboring Illinois, the story was much the same, though the circumstances varied by region. In Champaign, over 1,200 Ameren Illinois customers found themselves without power south of West Springfield Avenue, near Centennial High School, on Sunday evening. The outage began around 6:20 p.m., and as of 6:50 p.m., workers were still assessing the cause and estimating when power would be restored, according to WCIA. The uncertainty left residents anxious, especially as the temperature dipped and the prospect of an extended outage loomed.
Quincy, Illinois, faced its own bout of darkness earlier that day. At 1:45 p.m., Ameren’s outage map showed over 5,000 residences without power, stretching from Hampshire Street to Front Street, and as far south as County Road 900 N., with some outages extending north near Locust Street and Highway 96. While the majority of affected homes saw power restored quickly, more than 50 residences within the city limits were still waiting for the lights to come back on as of Sunday evening. The cause of the outage remained a mystery, with Ameren offering no immediate explanation.
For many, the outage was more than an inconvenience—it was a stark reminder of how dependent modern life is on a steady supply of electricity. Residents like Donna Lenane of Quincy described the sudden darkness as disorienting. "Well, it was around 2 o’clock and it kinda threw us for a loop ‘cause our house gets real dark ‘cause it’s all wood inside," Lenane told WGEM News. "So, it gets dark in a hurry, and I was on my way to the basement to start some laundry." She recounted how her power flickered on and off, sometimes for only a few seconds, but at other times for as long as 30 minutes. The outage even left her family unable to open their all-electric garage door, a surprisingly common predicament during such events. "We couldn’t even get out of the garage because it’s an all electric door. And it’s an all wooden door, so we really can’t lift it very good as we used to when we were younger," she added, highlighting the unforeseen challenges that come with a power loss.
As the outages dragged on, the risks became more apparent. For some, the darkness was more than just an inconvenience; it posed real safety hazards. Navigating a home without lights can lead to falls or injuries, and those reliant on electric medical devices faced even graver concerns. The loss of power also meant a loss of heating for many, a particularly worrisome prospect as the mercury continued to fall.
Utility companies urged residents to stay safe and report any downed power lines immediately. DTE reminded customers to "please be safe and remember to stay at least 25 feet from any downed power lines — assume they are live and dangerous." Consumers Energy and other utilities provided hotlines and online resources for reporting outages and hazardous conditions, underscoring the importance of community vigilance during severe weather.
Looking ahead, the path to full restoration remained uncertain. With no clear restoration times listed as of Sunday night, both Michigan and Illinois residents braced for another challenging night. Utility crews, often unsung heroes in these situations, continued their tireless work, battling freezing temperatures, high winds, and treacherous roads to bring power back to those left in the cold and dark.
For now, the Midwest’s struggle with winter’s fury serves as a vivid reminder of both the region’s resilience and the critical importance of infrastructure preparedness. As the snow piles up and the winds howl, communities across Michigan and Illinois are once again learning just how much they rely on the steady hum of electricity—and how quickly life changes when it’s gone.
