Wednesday, March 18, 2015

WIND GUSTS OVER 50 MPH IN NEW ENGLAND BROUGHT DOWN TREES AND POWER LINES IN CT, MA AND NH













MARCH 17, 2015


Photo posted to Twitter by the South Windsor Police Dept. shows a tree on a home. They say no one was hurt.  (South Windsor Police Department/Twitter) 


High winds roared into New England Tuesday, leaving damage in northern Connecticut and parts of Masschusetts. 

There were no early reports of injuries, but about 10,000 customers in Hartford and surrounding communities had lost power, according to NBC Connecticut. Rockville Hospital was forced to operate using a backup generator.

There were reports of several road closures throughout the Hartford area because of downed wires.

Wires in the road in the 2500 block of Ellington Rd (Rt74) in South Windsor slowing traffic. Near Dart Hill Rd. pic.twitter.com/j4nycpWq4p
— Chief Reed (@pd_southwindsor) March 17, 2015

Wind-related power outages and damage were also reported in Massachusetts. New England Cable News said a tree landed on a home in Methuen, while Route 135 was closed in Ashland because of downed power lines. No word on any injuries.

According to weather.com meteorologist Linda Lam, the winds were associated with a powerful cold front that punched through the region Tuesday. Part of the area was under a wind advisory at the time; it is posted through Wednesday morning.

Wind gusts over 50 mph have been reported in New England with trees and power lines down in CT, MA and NH. pic.twitter.com/hRw3DAdgtG
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) March 17, 2015

The cold front is forecast to knock overnight lows into the 20s and teens during the next few days. 

Source:weatherchannel.com
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MARCH 17, 2015

Wild weather, including wind damage and hail, caused problems across New England on Tuesday.

The National Weather Service issued wind advisories across areas of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine. Winter weather advisories were also issued.

A small stretch of busy route 135 in Ashland, Massachusetts, remains shut down Tuesday night, several hours after a tree came down on some power lines due to strong wind gusts this afternoon.

A hole in the ceiling, when the top of a pine tree pierced its way through, sending debris into Jaron Lariviere's Ashland bed room. But he soon realized he had more to worry about than that.

"Apparently they settled on the gas meter or the gas line and kind of snapped them, at one point. And it was a while before I smelled anything. I just happened to be downstairs and and smelled it," Lariviere said.

He and his 7-month-old daughter quickly evacuated the condo along with some neighbors.

The tree crews arrived as did the gas company.
Down Route 135 in Ashland, the road was closed down when a pine tree fell onto some power lines, firefighters made their way through to Jaron's home.
And not far away, in Holliston, those same strong winds snapped off this large limb onto Ashland Street, which crews got to the side of the road.
The storm was not confined to MetroWest though.

A tree made a huge hole in the roof and side of this home in Wilmington, and smashed the windshield of the car.
Another tree blocked Travis Street in the Allston section of Boston.
Loring Road in Lexington was impassable, as well.

Meantime, back in Ashland, no one was hurt, but it's getting cold, and Jaron's hoping for some heat.

"They (the gas crew) were just here, went through the unit, said everything's fine. They're coming now to actually replace and fix the line to the house so, in theory, we have heat tonight," Lariviere said.

People do have electricity along 135. The road has already been closed for more than three hours. It's unclear when it will reopen.
Source: http://www.necn.com