Severe Weather Causes Power Outages and Road Closures
Connecticut faced severe weather on Friday, resulting in power outages and road closures across the state. Strong winds and heavy rainfall prompted a First Alert Weather Day, with warnings issued regarding downed power lines and obstructed roadways.
Weather Conditions and Forecast
The weather disturbances had been anticipated throughout the week. Meteorologist Scot Haney indicated that gusts were expected to reach between 40 and 50 mph in most areas, with some locations in the southeastern shoreline and northern Litchfield Hills experiencing gusts exceeding 50 mph.
Timing of Severe Weather
The most intense conditions were forecasted for late morning and early afternoon. Heavy downpours were likely to disrupt the morning commute, and there were reports of potential rumbles of thunder accompanying the rainfall.
Impact on Power and Utilities
- Power outages were widespread, with Eversource reporting over 5,030 outages.
- United Illuminating noted additional outages numbering around 3,031.
Road Closures and Traffic Delays
Due to fallen trees and debris, multiple road closures were necessitated. The Connecticut Department of Transportation provided details on affected routes:
- Wilton: Route 7 (Danbury Road) closed at Scribner Hill Road due to a downed tree.
- Kent: Route 341 (Macedonia Road) closed between Macedonia Brook Road and Schaghticoke Road due to wires down.
- Norwalk: Water Street was closed from Hanford Place to Concord Street due to standing water.
- Coventry: Main Street closed between Sam Green and Fern for downed wires.
- Harwinton: A portion of Route 4 (Burlington Road) was temporarily closed but has since reopened.
Public Advice
Authorities urged residents to minimize travel during peak wind periods. Additionally, any downed power lines should be reported to utility companies immediately to ensure public safety. For real-time traffic updates, residents were encouraged to consult the Channel 3 First Alert traffic map.
