RHINELANDER - Update: As of 2:15 PM, about 5,000 WPS customers remain without power.

As areas are restored, additional crews are moving to the Merrill and Antigo areas where the largest number of outages remain.

Merrill still has about 2,080 customers out in 173 separate outages, while Antigo has about 1,500 customers out in 56 outages.

The remaining areas are expected to restore service to their customers by later this evening.

It is likely some Merrill customers won’t be returned to service until tomorrow. A few Antigo customers could also remain without service.

The extremely hot and humid weather is slowing restoration efforts somewhat. WPS is delivering extra water to crews to keep them hydrated and authorizing breaks to ensure workers are not jeopardizing their safety during the restoration effort.

WPS is also receiving reports of residents moving downed power lines as the clean up their properties. Please leave downed lines alone.

Power outages caused by strong storms are effecting many in the northwoods.

Wisconsin Public Service says the Merrill, Antigo and Wausau areas of their grid were hit hardest.

At times this morning, close to 16-thousand customers were left in the dark.

WPS's Leah Van Zile says crews headed out the door immediately and power be fixed soon.

In the areas are most heavily effected, Antigo and the Merrill, Van Zile says some people may not get their power until later on this evening.

Van Zile says customers need to report outages to WPS and if you see a downed line or trees hanging on lines...stay away and let power crews clear the lines.