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Northeast Storm: Powerful Winds Knock Out Power to 500,000 Northeast ‘Bomb Cyclone’: Powerful Winds Knock Out Power to 500,000
(32 minutes later)
BOSTON — Roofs peeled off, falling trees brought down electric lines, and more than 500,000 customers in New England were without power early Thursday as winds gusting up to 90 miles an hour swept up the East Coast. BOSTON — Roofs peeled off, cruise ships sought shelter, falling trees brought down electric lines, and more than 500,000 customers in New England were without power early Thursday as winds gusting up to 90 miles an hour swept up the East Coast.
Meteorologists have described the storm as a “bomb cyclone,” sometimes known as a “winter hurricane,” which occurs when atmospheric pressure drops especially dramatically over 24 hours. Meteorologists described the storm as a “bomb cyclone,” sometimes known as a “winter hurricane,” which occurs when atmospheric pressure drops especially dramatically — by 24 millibars in 24 hours.
A bomb cyclone can happen when a mass of warm air meets with a mass of cold air, and the air starts to move, with the rotation of the earth creating a cyclonic effect. The direction is counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, leading to winds that come out of the northeast — a Nor’easter.A bomb cyclone can happen when a mass of warm air meets with a mass of cold air, and the air starts to move, with the rotation of the earth creating a cyclonic effect. The direction is counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, leading to winds that come out of the northeast — a Nor’easter.
The storm strengthened quickly as it moved up the coastline, and atmospheric pressure dropped from 1000 millibars to 974 millibars, said Benjamin Sipprell, a meteorologist based in Boston for the National Weather Service.
A pressure drop of that kind can even affect the human body, causing headaches or flare-ups in pre-existing injuries, he said.
The highest winds, of 90 miles an hour, were recorded early Thursday in Provincetown, Mass., and gusts of 70 and 80 miles an hour were buffeting parts of Cape Cod, according to Christopher Besse, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.The highest winds, of 90 miles an hour, were recorded early Thursday in Provincetown, Mass., and gusts of 70 and 80 miles an hour were buffeting parts of Cape Cod, according to Christopher Besse, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.
As of 8:15 a.m., around 225,000 customers in Massachusetts were without power, mostly because trees or tree limbs had crashed down, snapping power lines.As of 8:15 a.m., around 225,000 customers in Massachusetts were without power, mostly because trees or tree limbs had crashed down, snapping power lines.
Firefighters in Duxbury, around 35 miles southeast of Boston, published photographs of numerous trees that had crashed onto roads and the roofs of houses.Firefighters in Duxbury, around 35 miles southeast of Boston, published photographs of numerous trees that had crashed onto roads and the roofs of houses.
“No school in Duxbury today!” the Fire Department announced at 5:26 a.m.“No school in Duxbury today!” the Fire Department announced at 5:26 a.m.
Many parts of Maine were also hard hit, with nearly 200,000 customers without power in the state, according to Maine’s Emergency Management Agency. In Maine, two cruise ships, the AIDAdiva and the Mein Schiff 1, sought shelter in Portland Harbor on Wednesday, said Jessica Grondin, a city spokeswoman. A third, Norwegian Gem, recharted its course to eliminate a planned stop in Portland.
An Amtrak Downeaster train, which runs between Brunswick, Maine and Boston, was canceled at 6:31 a.m. because of downed trees on the track, said Jason Abrams, an Amtrak spokesman.
Many parts of Maine were hard hit, with nearly 200,000 customers without power in the state, according to Maine’s Emergency Management Agency.
Strong winds whipped up the coast of Southern Maine, gusting up to 60 miles an hour, said Kathleen Rusley, a spokeswoman for the agency, who herself encountered strong wind and rain on her drive to work.Strong winds whipped up the coast of Southern Maine, gusting up to 60 miles an hour, said Kathleen Rusley, a spokeswoman for the agency, who herself encountered strong wind and rain on her drive to work.
“I’m trying to think of the correct word, I don’t want to use the word ‘exciting,’” she said. “It was pretty dynamic.” No injuries have been reported, she said.“I’m trying to think of the correct word, I don’t want to use the word ‘exciting,’” she said. “It was pretty dynamic.” No injuries have been reported, she said.
There was some grumbling this week because, in some places, the storm dislodged autumn leaves just as they reached their most vivid tones, leaving them in damp mounds on the ground. Loose items, like roof awnings and Halloween decorations, also went flying.
But the vast amount of damage was done by falling trees, including large ones that were uprooted by the force of the winds.