Storm downs trees and power lines, leaving thousands without power

A severe storm, packing 60 mph wind gusts, lightning and hail, swept across the north shore of Long Island before daybreak this morning, leaving more than 35,000 homes and businesses without power in its wake. More than 4,800 customers across the North Fork were affected, according to PSEG.

Wading River Fire Department answered six calls this morning in a 30-minute period during the height of the storm. Wind gusts reported of up to 60 mph took down numerous trees, limbs and branches — and with them, power lines. Some power lines caught fire and a transformer on a pole on Oakleigh Avenue in Baiting Hollow caught fire. It was extinguished by Riverhead Fire Department volunteers.

There were two reported structure fires in Wading River, but in both cases the power lines were on fire, Wading River Fire Chief Kevin McQueeney said.

The National Weather Service was still gathering information about the storm, according to a meteorologist at the agency’s office in Upton.

“We have unconfirmed reports of wind gusts of 50-60 MPH,” he said. There were reports of hail falling in addition to strong winds and lightning, he said.

Island-wide, nearly 35,000 customers were left without power in the wake of the storm, according to PSEG-LI’s website. The fast-moving storm rode the north shore, west to east. The National Weather Service issued a series of severe thunderstorm warnings for northeastern Suffolk County beginning at 4:40 a.m. Some 4,830 customers were without power in the Town of Southold, with the bulk of the outages in Cutchogue, according to the utility company.

Riverhead Highway Department crews have been out since about 6 a.m. working to open up the roads, Highway Superintendent Gio Woodson said.

RiverheadLOCAL photos by Peter Blasl