Weather downs trees, disrupts power
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
HIGH WINDS and heavy rain over the weekend resulted in reports of power outages and downed trees throughout the region. A large section of this maple, located in front of the Presque Isle High School, fell victim to the weather sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning — falling just inches from the building. The tree has since been removed.
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
High winds and rain that began late Friday and continued intermittently over the weekend caused power outages, downed trees and minor flooding throughout the region.
Officials with the National Weather Service issued tornado warnings throughout Saturday and Sunday, with at least one confirmed twister touching down Sunday about two miles north of Eagle Lake, cutting a swath about 50 yards wide by 80 yards long. Damage was limited to mostly uprooted trees.
Sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning, high winds in the Presque Isle and East Chapman areas resulted in several downed trees. A large maple in front of the Presque Isle High School was split in half, with a large portion landing just inches from the building. The tree has since been removed.
Bangor Hydro Electric/Maine Public Service reported two separate power outages affecting customers in the area, first on Friday when 750 customers in Aroostook were left without electricity; the second incident was reported on Sunday when an additional 500 in Aroostook lost power.
“Maine Public Service customers experienced power outages due to severe thunderstorms this evening,” said Communications Supervisor Susan Faloon in an e-mail May 31.
Faloon said power outages were scattered across the areas of Westfield, Fort Fairfield and Garfield and surrounding towns.
“Customers reported many areas with fallen tree limbs due to the fast-moving storm,” she said.
Once winds subsided, Faloon said crews were able to make progress in restoring power.
Weather was blamed for Sunday night’s power outage as well.
“Customers experienced power outages due to the afternoon’s thunderstorms. Outages reached their peak around 8:30 p.m. Crews made good progress but because of the widespread nature of the outages, power wasn’t restored to all until early the next day,” said Faloon.
Areas affected by Sunday’s outage included: Eagle Lake, Cross Lake, New Sweden, Monticello, Oakfield and Grindstone.
