RALEIGH (WTVD) --
As Tropical Storm Michael continues to move through North Carolina, heavy storms are already beginning to cause thousands of power outages across the state.As of 7:30 p.m. Thursday, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety reported a total of 604,831 power outages.
Duke Energy projects Hurricane Michael could cause 300,000 to 500,000 power outages in North Carolina and South Carolina this week, based on the storm's current forecasted track.
Officials said complete power restoration from a storm of this magnitude could take several days.
Related:
Power outages reported: Here's what you need to do
Types of generators: What to know about power generators before a blackout
