New England Nor'easter Storm Shuts Power Off For Hundreds Of Thousands – NPR, Npr.org

      

   

A powerful nor’easter storm is pummeling the New England area with heavy rain, strong winds and floods, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of people in several states Thursday morning. )

TheNational Weather Servicewarns that winds from the storm may down trees and power lines and cause power outages. And the agency says people affected by the storm should secureloose outdoor itemsand be cautious when usingportable generators.

In Maine, about 175, 000 customers were without power as of 12: 00 PM local time, according toCentral Maine Power. Another state power provider reports an additional40, 000power outages.

Roads have been closed to clear power lines and trees, closing schools and businesses. The state’s emergency operations center was partially activated at 4 a.m. in anticipation of the storm.

“In two hours it went from 60, 000 to over 100, 000, so we don’t have any estimates of restoration right now, “Central Maine Power spokeswoman Catherine Hartnett says, according to Maine Public Radio. “We are still dealing with the effects of an intense storm, and as we can assess the damage and begin the restoration we will begin posting restoration estimateson our website. “

       

About 198, 000 Massachusetts residents woke up to power outages, according to theMassachusetts Emergency Management Agency. As of11: 00 am., the agency reported the number of residents affected had shot up to more than 215, 000. The NWS office in Boston has issued a high wind warning,reportingwind gusts as strong as 90 mph in some parts of the state.

At Boston’s Logan International Airport, high windscauseda collision between a Southwest Airlines plane and a jet bridge. The plane wasreportedly emptyand sitting at the boarding gate at the time of the incident.

       

The NWS has issued high wind warnings to people living in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey that will stay in effect until 6 pm, with gusts expected up to 60 MPH.Connecticutis reporting the most outages in the tri-state area, with the state’s largest power utility reporting about 36, 000 customers without power. West Hartford Public Works said that some traffic signals are not functioning and crews are working on clearing roads.

According topoweroutage. us, there were 26, 000 people without power scattered throughout New York, as of 12: 00 pm. And in New Jersey, more than (8,) peoplelost power Thursday morning.

Rhode Island’sNational Grid, the state’s only electric provider, reports more than 37, 000 affected customers as of 11: 55 am. The storm brought more than four inches of rain and winds up to 70 mph to the state.

       

New Hampshire power outages rose to over, 000 Thursday morning, according to the state’s Department of Safety.

According to theNWS, the storm is expected to rapidly lift into eastern Canada by Friday, with rain and possible snow showers lingering in interior areas amid unseasonably cool temperatures.

Paolo Zialcita is an intern on NPR’s News Desk.