A line of fast-moving thunderstorms ripped through Riverhead early this morning, downing trees and limbs all over town and leaving more than 2,350 customers without power in Riverhead. Another 208 customers in Flanders are also in the dark following the potent storm.
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning this morning at 6:20 a.m. It said, “Doppler radar indicated a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds in excess of 60 mph were moving across the twin forks of Long Island and moving northeast at 80 mph.”
Numerous reports of trees down came in during and immediately following the storm. Locations included several on Route 25 in Riverhead and Aquebogue, on Marcy, Sweezy and Hamilton Avenue in Polish Town and on Wilson Avenue in Millbrook Gables, where a large tree fell on a house. The storm left a trail of smaller debris strewn across local roadways.
Police and Riverhead Highway Department crews are out clearing branches and trees from roadways.
There were no reported injuries.
The National Weather Service in Upton said it did not have any wind speed reports in Riverhead, but winds of 53 mph were measured in East Moriches. A private local weather station in Riverhead recorded wind gusts just under 50 mph as the storm passed overhead.
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Peter Blasl
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