Western Massachusetts was picking up the pieces Thursday after a massive storm knocked over at least 80 trees and branches and caused widespread power outages the day prior.
According to Eversource’s outage map, 12,148 out of the region’s 219,404 customers, or 5.54 percent, were without power as of 11:30 a.m. These figures included all of Leyden’s customers, 89 percent of Conway’s and nearly 6 percent of those in Greenfield.
Bill Leathem, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Boston office, explained the main reason the storm was so powerful was that a strong cold front pushed through the region and that cold front developed a line of showers and thunderstorm that brought the heavy winds. He said the calamity passed through so rapidly because that line of thunderstorms moved at 60 to 80 mph. He mentioned widespread damage was reported from central New York through southern New England.
At least one death was reported, in Great Barrington.
Glenn Field, National Weather Service’s warning coordination meteorologist, explained the storm was not a microburst, which is defined as being not more than 2½ miles in diameter.
At roughly 11:40 a.m., Eversource spokesperson Reid Lamberty said hundreds of field crews and tree crews had been “working nonstop since it was safe to do so” to clear roads and restore power.
“We are continuing to work as we speak,” he said.
Lamberty also said mutual aid in the form of line crews and contractors were en route from New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Canada. He said it is expected that all customers will have power restored by noon Saturday, with the vast majority getting it back before then.
He said the storm resulted in 30 blocked roads, 41 broken utility poles and six miles of downed wires. He said fallen trees and tree limbs are the biggest culprit behind downed wires and poles.
“(The storm) left as quickly as it came,” Lamberty said. “It was a very, very fast-moving, powerful and damaging storm.”
Athol Police Lt. Ron Cote said around noon that National Grid and the Athol Highway Department had been working around the clock to clear roads.
“It’s a slow go. We have quite a few streets that have been blocked by poles and stuff,” he said, adding that the areas of White Pond Road and New Sherborn Road were hit particularly hard. “It was pretty strong.”
Cote also said there was an unconfirmed report a horse killed by a fallen tree.
Bernardston Fire Chief Peter Shedd said the department responded to a report of a tree fallen on the roof of a house at 45 Turners Falls Road Wednesday evening and remained on scene until after 9 p.m. The tree caused damage to the roof, and some structural damage inside the home. The house did not lose power, Shedd said and the homeowners were still able to stay there. Shedd said there was also a report of a tree hitting a home on Dewey Street.
Mutual aid Wednesday came from Guilford and Brattleboro Vt., and Hinsdale, N.H. After they assisted Bernardston, Shedd said these departments drove to Greenfield to continue providing aid.
In total, Shedd estimated the Bernardston fire department received more than 30 calls Wednesday evening as a result of the storm. He said there was “good teamwork” between the Bernardston police, fire and highway departments throughout the night. As of Thursday morning main roads were clear, but some back roads were still blocked.
Eversource’s outage map for Western Massachusetts can be found at bit.ly/36JDKo1.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.