Power Outage in Worcester, MA

In Barre, trees and power lines were downed on Old Dana Road. A tree and power line was down on Sheldon Road.

In Worcester, trees were down on Goddard Drive, Scandinavia Avenue, and Lovell Street. |A tree was down on a house at Ludlow and Main Street. Power lines were down on Boston Avenue.

In Worcester, trees were down on Goddard Drive, Scandinavia Avenue, and Lovell Street. |A tree was down on a house at Ludlow and Main Street. Power lines were down on Boston Avenue.

In Sutton, a large tree, power lines, and one utility pole were down on Douglas Road.

In Templeton, power lines were downed (from wind) on Route 68.

In Mendon, a tree and power lines were down on Northbridge Street.

In Worcester, a tree was down on a car at 61 Briar Lane. Power lines were down on Tacoma Street and Clark Street. A tree and wires were down on Quinapoxet Lane at Bergstrom Road. Also, a tree was down at 1222 Pleasant Street.

In New Braintree a tree and power lines were down at Mcevoy Rd and Ravine Road. There were also trees down on West Rd. at Hardwick Road.

In Southbridge, a tree was down on power lines on Vista Lane.

In Leicester, a tree was down on wires on Henshaw St at South Main St. A tree was down on powerlines on White Birch St. A tree was down on Marshall St. A tree was down on Greenville Cr.

In Leicester, a tree was down on wires on Henshaw St at South Main St. A tree was down on powerlines on White Birch St. A tree was down on Marshall St. A tree was down on Greenville Cr.

In Douglas, a tree was down on power lines on Hemlock Street.

In Barre, a tree was down on power lines on Route 122 (Worcester Road).

Power lines were downed from wind on Spring Hill Road in Barre.

Power lines on Johnson Street were downed by thunderstorm winds.

Power lines on Burncoat Street were downed by thunderstorm winds.

Lightning struck a power substation in Worcester Square, knocking out power to 27,000 people.

Trees and wires on Main and Day Streets were downed by thunderstorm winds. This resulted in a power loss to much of the west side of Leominster. In addition, numerous trees were downed throughout Fitchburg, including on Bemis, Kimball, Rollingstone, Charles, and Main Streets.

A backdoor cold front combined with a sea breeze front, warm temperatures, and plenty of instability to produce showers and thunderstorms across much of southern New England. Significant wind damage was produced throughout much of the Connecticut River Valley in Massachusetts with numerous trees and wires down and widespread power outages. This resulted in dozens of road closures, including portions of Route 2 and Interstate 91.

An upper level disturbance combined with a weakening cold front to initiate showers and thunderstorms across southern New England. These storms produced damaging winds, downing trees, wires, and power poles throughout the area.

A cold frontal boundary dropped south of New England on the evening of the 10th. Low pressure developed along the frontal boundary across the southeastern states late on the night of the 10th into the 11th. The low then tracked rapidly to the northeast, spreading a significant amount of precipitation into New England. A deep layer of warm air aloft and sub-freezing air at the surface resulted in a major ice storm across interior Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire as well as much of northern New England. ||The hardest hit areas in southern New England were the Monadnock region of southwest New Hampshire, the Worcester Hills in central Massachusetts, and the east slopes of the Berkshires in western Massachusetts. Anywhere from half an inch to an inch of ice accreted on many exposed surfaces. Especially when combined with breezy conditions, the ice downed numerous trees, branches, and power lines which resulted in widespread power outages. More than 300,000 customers were reportedly without power in Massachusetts and an additional 300,000 were without power in the state of New Hampshire. Because of the breadth of this storm (from Pennsylvania to Maine), extra crews to reinstate power were harder to come by. Power crews from states as far away as South Carolina, as well as local National Guard teams, were called out to help with power restoration and clean up. While most people had their power restored within a week, others were still without power at Christmas (nearly 2 weeks later). During this period, temperatures were mostly below normal and at least one major snowstorm affected the same area. At the time of the December 19th snowstorm, over 100,000 customers were still without power in the two states combined. Most communities had opened shelters to provide a warm, safe place for residents. According to the numbers reported in local newspapers, most did not take advantage of this opportunity and chose to remain in their homes, using wood stoves or generators for heat. Many schools, a week and a half from the winter holiday break at the time of the storm, cancelled school for the remainder of the month because of a lack of electricity and clear routes for transporting students. ||A public works employee, supervising storm clean up in Marlborough, went missing during his shift and was found dead two days later in a reservoir. Because this occurred as a part of his job, following the storm, it was considered an indirect fatality. Damage to the infrastructure in Massachusetts and New Hampshire amounted to roughly eighty million dollars. This amount does not include damage to private property, which was unavailable at the time of this report. The extent of the damage and number of people affected prompted the governors of both Massachusetts and New Hampshire to request federal assistance. FEMA approved both requests. President Bush issued a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance for seven Massachusetts counties and all of New Hampshire.

A powerful low pressure system tracked through eastern New York spreading heavy rain and strong winds across Southern New England. Heavy rain coinciding with spring snowmelt contributed to river flooding, especially along the Connecticut River. In addition, rainfall totals of two to three inches resulted in areal flooding across much of the region. In coastal areas, high astronomical tides combined with rough seas and storm surge to produce minor coastal flooding.

Strong instability, moderate to strong wind shear, and the approach of a cold front set the stage for a widespread thunderstorm outbreak across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island on the 16th. The main result was wind damage to trees and power lines. This was the most widespread severe thunderstorm event of May 2007.

Scattered thunderstorms produced wind damage throughout parts of Massachusetts.In western Massachusetts, thunderstorm winds brought down large tree limbs in West Springfield, which blocked Talcott and Upper Beverly Streets. Several large limbs were also downed on Route 202 in Pelham. As the storms entered Worcester County, strong winds brought down two trees in the city of Worcester.Storm damage was also reported in southeast Massachusetts. In Bristol and Plymouth Counties, thunderstorm winds took down power lines in Attleboro, Rehoboth, and Bridgewater. Torrential rainfall caused urban flooding in Hingham, when 1.40 inches of rain fell in 20 minutes. A car became stranded at the intersection of Route 53 and Peter Hobart Street, which was covered with one foot of water. In addition, lightning struck a house in Kingston, igniting a fire which caused minor damage.

Severe thunderstorms brought damaging winds, large hail, and frequent lightning strikes to the Mass Turnpike corridor.Early in the afternoon, simultaneous lightning strikes in Bedford ignited two fires which caused considerable damage. A 30- by 60-foot barn used for storage at the Bedford Village Inn was struck by lightning and caused about $200,000 in damage. Lightning also struck a house on Nashua Drive which caused about $15,000 in damage. There were no injuries in either case.Later that afternoon, however, seven youths and two adults were injured when lightning struck a tree they were near at a church in Worcester, according to media and police reports. The impact of the lightning bolt knocked everyone to the ground, with many of the injured receiving burns on their necks and legs. Lightning also struck a house on Pleasant Street in Leicester, causing about $50,000 in damage.As thunderstorms entered eastern Massachusetts, they produced significant wind damage in Middlesex County. In Belmont, straight-line winds estimated near 60 mph snapped about 25 trees and 7 telephone poles in half. One tree fell onto a house near the intersection of Somerset Street and Wellington Lane. Most of the tree damage occurred just southwest of that location on Concord Avenue, just northwest of the town center. Large trees and wires were also brought down in Medford, and large branches, wires, and telephone poles were downed in Somerville.Other severe thunderstorms then affected the area from Ludlow to Palmer in Hampden County, where penny size hail was reported, along with downed trees and power lines. North Main Street in Palmer was blocked at Roosevelt Street by a large tree that also brought down wires. Three trees fell by Burgundy Brook Farm on Palmer Road, temporarily blocking the roadway. Another tree fell on a house on Calkins Road.Damage was also reported in parts of central and eastern Massachusetts. Wires were brought down by thunderstorm winds on Howard Street in Northborough. In Arlington, multiple 4- to 6-inch diameter branches were downed on Massachusetts Avenue. Tree limbs fell onto a car in West Arlington. In Braintree, one tree and several power lines were brought down on Washington Street. Tree limbs were brought down in Hull, and wires were downed on Washington Street in Quincy. Thunderstorm winds also brought down several large limbs in Monson later that evening.

Isolated severe thunderstorms caused damage in western and north central Massachusetts.In Amherst, thunderstorm winds ripped about 100 feet of metal fencing out of the ground, knocked metal benches around, and destroyed the canopy of the press box on Garber Field at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. The damage occurred in the middle of a lacrosse game, but there were no injuries.Thunderstorm winds also brought down power lines in the Townsend Harbor Road area of Lunenburg, and brought down several trees in Townsend on Route 124, Bridle Road, Fox Run Road, and Old Turnpike Road.

Showers and thunderstorms developed across Massachusetts in a hot and humid airmass ahead of a weak cold front during the afternoon and evening hours of 14 August 2005. These thunderstorms produced damaging wind gusts, large hail, and flash flooding. The hardest hit counties include Hampden, Franklin, Worcester, and Plymouth. These storms also left as many as 51,000 electric customers without power.Flash flooding occurred in Brockton, Braintree, Quincy, South Weymouth, and Hingham. In Brockton, basements and multiple streets were flooded with over two feet of water. Some people had to be rescued from their cars when the cars stalled in these flooded roadways.Severe thunderstorms produced damaging winds that knocked down trees, limbs, and wires. These damaging winds knocked down numerous trees on North Shore Road, West Shore Road, Pine Street, and Damon Avenue in Holbrook. Also, trees and wires came down on Randall and Greenfield Roads in the Turner Falls section of Montague as a result of these severe thunderstorms. Several hundred trees were reported blown down as a result of a possible microburst in Hingham. Of these several hundred trees down, approximately 20 came down on Main Street. Numerous people reported trees down in their backyards and in a park near the Main Street area.These severe thunderstorms also produced hail of up to 1.0 inch in diameter in Springfield and in Longmeadow.In addition to the severe wind and hail reports, lightning destroyed a historic barn in Sutton.No known injuries directly resulted from these thunderstorms.

Strong to severe thunderstorms affected portions of western Massachusetts, northeast Massachusetts, and southwest New Hampshire during the afternoon of 29 June 2005. These storms produced damaging winds, and lightning as they moved across the region. There was also a report of nickel sized hail from these storms in Springfield, Massachusetts.Severe wind gusts brought down trees and power lines onto houses and roads, leaving thousands of electric customers without power for hours. In Northampton, downed power lines closed portions of both Bridge and Ryan roads for several hours. In North Montague, severe wind gusts knocked 5 trees and wires down on Main Street. Lightning strikes sparked a garage fire in Templeton; hit a 50 foot oak tree in Haverhill, which subsequently crashed onto the roof of a building and hit a car; and it also struck the basement of a ranch style house in Deerfield, causing structural damage to the house.

Scattered thunderstorms, with embedded severe thunderstorms, produced lightning and severe wind gusts that damaged property and brought down trees and power lines across Massachusetts. The hardest hit were Franklin, Hampshire, Worcester, Essex, and Plymouth counties. Various lightning strikes downed power lines and trees, set fires to homes, and caused multiple injuries. For example, lightning struck a softball field in Rockland, injuring 15 people. Also, lightning downed high tension power lines, which closed sections of Route 2 in Westminster.Severe wind gusts brought down trees and power lines. One of the most noteworthy occurred in Northfield, where a microburst was produced from a severe thunderstorm. This microburst produced estimated wind gusts at 100 mph, or slightly higher. These wind gusts brought down 80-100 trees. The damage path stretched for approximately one mile, with the worst damage occurring on School, South, and Virnhan streets. A white pine tree three feet in diameter was brought down. Over 2,000 utility customers were without power from this storm.

Severe thunderstorms swept across western, central, and northeast Massachusetts and caused widespread damage. There were many reports of downed trees, large limbs, and power lines from winds estimated to have gusted as high as 60 mph from the east slopes of the Berkshires across Worcester County to the Merrimack Valley. In Worcester County, a downburst cut a path of damage over a four mile stretch, from Ball Hill in the northwest corner of Northborough to a little to the southeast of the Algonquin High School parking lot. A number of pine trees from 1 to 2 feet in diameter were snapped off at various heights.The storms also produced large and damaging hail. A pilot at Tewksbury Airport reported two inch diameter hail which lasted four minutes. It caused damage to several parked aircraft. Golf ball sized hail was reported by amateur radio operators in Ashburnham and Townsend. Several cars sustained damage from the hail in Townsend. Lightning from the storms ignited a fire which caused extensive damage to several houses in Tewksbury. One person was struck by lightning at a campground on Peppermint Hill in Cummington.

A severe thunderstorm produced dime sized hail in Phillipston, downed wires in Gardner, and brought down a large tree along Route 34 in Lunenburg. Scattered power outages were reported throughout northern Worcester County as a result of this storm.

Severe thunderstorms moved through much of the Bay State during the afternoon and evening. There were many reports of downed trees, large branches, and power lines from the east slopes of the Berkshires into Worcester and Middlesex Counties. Damage was most widespread in Hampden and Hampshire Counties, where about 6,000 electric customers were left without power because of the storms. Lightning strikes caused damage in Worcester and Norfolk Counties. In Worcester, lightning hit a power substation and a bank of transformers, resulting in more than 3,000 customers losing power. Lightning was also given as the probable cause of a barn fire in Southbridge. In Norfolk County, lightning struck five separate power poles as well as two homes, causing minor damage.

Lightning from early morning thunderstorms caused brief power outages and minor damage in Essex County. A shed was damaged by a lightning-induced fire in Methuen and about 2,500 customers lost power in Methuen, Andover, Lawrence, Boxford, and Salisbury.Just after dawn, other thunderstorms moved across central and eastern Massachusetts. One thunderstorm briefly became severe in Worcester County, producing dime sized hail in Southbridge and downing large branches. The storm weakened as it reached greater Boston, but lightning struck two homes in Quincy and damaged two vehicles on the Southeast Expressway in Milton. No injuries were reported.

A fast-moving line of severe thunderstorms brought large hail and damaging winds to parts of central and eastern Massachusetts. The damage began in Worcester County, where thunderstorms dropped dime sized hail on the border of Sterling and Princeton, before moving into southern Middlesex County where large branches were downed in Wayland.Additional storms developed to the south, and caused additional damage in Norfolk and Plymouth Counties. A wind gust to 71 mph was measured at the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton, and there were numerous reports of downed trees and wires in Milton and Quincy. Quarter sized hail fell in Randolph, as observed by a Skywarn spotter, which lasted for about three minutes. In Dedham, lightning struck a house and ignited a fire which damaged the roof. Lightning also struck a two-story building in Weymouth causing minor damage. As these storms progressed into Plymouth County, they downed trees and wires in Abington, Whitman, Hanson, Hanover, and Pembroke. Dime sized hail was reported by a Skywarn spotter in Rockland. In all, about 7,500 customers were left without power in Norfolk and Plymouth Counties after the storms moved through.

Severe thunderstorms moved across parts of central and eastern Massachusetts. Dime sized hail was reported in Hampden and Worcester Counties, from Southwick to Spencer, Oxford, Leicester, Millbury, and Milford. The storms also downed trees and power lines in Wrentham before weakening.The same storms also produced a microburst in Oxford, bringing down several large, old trees. Other trees were downed on town and private property, utility poles were brought down, some roofs were slightly damaged, and the flagpole at the Middle School was bent by a falling tree. The microburst appeared to originate along Old Dudley Road and travel to Pineridge Drive, through South Cemetery, across Route 12 and Interstate 395, to Brown Road. A trained spotter measured a wind gust to 67 MPH as the storms moved through.

The season's first widespread severe weather event downed trees and wires throughout a large part of western, central, and northeast Massachusetts. Damage was reported in many towns from the east slopes of the Berkshires across Worcester County and into Essex County, but was most concentrated in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties. Northampton was especially hard hit, with many large trees and power lines down. About 3,100 electric customers lost power due to the storms.

Isolated severe thunderstorms produced large hail in Worcester, Middlesex, and Norfolk Counties. Golf ball sized hail was reported in Hopkinton, while hail the size of quarters fell in Marlborough, Dover and Medfield. Dime sized hail was reported in Holliston, Ashland, Hudson, and Northborough.Lightning from the thunderstorms struck a school in Southboro, and destroyed a home in Sherborn. In Ashland, lightning downed a power line and two firefighters were indirectly injured as a result, when they touched a fence which was electrified by the downed wire.

For the second straight day, severe thunderstorms moved across much of central and northeast Massachusetts. Thunderstorm winds downed trees, power lines, and large branches throughout much of Worcester, Middlesex, and Essex Counties. Hail as large as quarters was reported in Lawrence and Methuen. In the Connecticut River Valley, a second line of storms downed nearly ten trees, one of which flattened a parked car. Nearly 22,000 electric customers were left without power during the storms.Lightning strikes caused damage in southern Middlesex County. In Natick, lightning struck a church steeple and ignited a fire, causing an estimated $75,000 in damage. In Framingham, lightning struck an apartment building and caused an estimated $125,000 in damage. No injuries were reported.

The most widespread severe weather event of the season struck most of the Bay State, with countless reports of downed trees, branches, and large hail from the east slopes of the Berkshires into metro Boston and the North Shore.The storms began in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties around mid afternoon, and downed trees in Turners Falls, Worthington, and Chester. Dime to nickel sized hail was also reported. Severe weather reports became more numerous by late afternoon as the storms reached central and northeast Massachusetts. There many reports of large trees down from Littleton, Wilmington, Southborough, Shrewsbury and Sterling, where a spotter recorded a gust to 62 mph. In Essex County, severe thunderstorms downed trees and dropped dime sized hail in Lynnfield, Peabody, Beverly, and Marblehead. More severe thunderstorms erupted in Worcester County during the evening, dropping quarter sized hail in Mendon. These storms tracked into southern Middlesex County near Holliston, where large limbs were downed, then reached Norfolk County where more considerable storm damage occurred. A microburst downed many large trees and wires in Bellingham, Millis, and Medway. A survey of the debris and an eyewitness account also confirmed that a small F0 tornado touched down in Bellingham around 725 pm EDT. The tornado was estimated to have a path length of 150 yards and a width of 80 yards. Wind speeds were estimated near 70 mph. There were no injuries. Spotters reported hail as large as a half dollar prior to the wind damage. As the storms progressed across Norfolk County, trees and power lines were downed in Sharon, Walpole, and Norwood. Another severe thunderstorm later in the evening downed trees onto a road in Walpole and another on a house.The storms also contained frequent cloud-to-ground lightning. Tens of thousands were left without power. In Auburn, lightning caused two house fires when a nearby transformer was struck. In Whitman, a house fire started by a lightning strike on the second floor. Police and fire communications were temporarily disrupted when lightning struck an antenna in Norwood.

Severe thunderstorms swept across much of western, central, and northeast Massachusetts. In Hampden County, hail as large as golf balls fell in Ludlow and Wilbraham, and several trees and power lines were also downed. In Hampshire County, dime to quarter size hail fell in Chesterfield, Westhampton, South Amherst, and Belchertown, while golf ball size hail was reported in Pelham. Thunderstorm winds also downed wires in Belchertown. In Worcester County, trees and wires were downed in Hardwick and Worcester, and dime sized hail fell in Princeton. As the storms reached Middlesex County, golf ball sized hail was reported in Stow, and large trees and wires were downed in Stow, Maynard, Framingham, Hudson, Sudbury, and Malden.