ESCANABA — Widespread power outages affected thousands of residents across the Upper Peninsula on Monday as high winds felled trees throughout the region.

In the Upper Peninsula, Schoolcraft, Keweenaw, Houghton, Marquette, Chippewa, Delta and Menominee counties were among those without electricity for portions of the day, though crews worked to get most back online by late afternoon and evening.

In the mid-afternoon, Michigan had the second-most power outages in the United States; only California experienced more. More than 10,000 customers of Upper Peninsula Power Company were without electricity — about 17% of their customers.

Gale warnings had been in effect for Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron. Wind gusts were predicted to exceed 40 mph along the Lake Michigan coast. About 1 p.m. Monday, the National Weather Service recorded winds of 28 mph and gusts of 35 mph at Delta County Airport in Escanaba.

Areas downstate, both along the lakeshore as well as inland, were affected by power outages as well.

The rest of the week should be milder as far as wind, although temperatures will be dropping and snow is forecasted for Escanaba this weekend.