Storm Causes Downed Trees, Flooding in County
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — A Nor'easter pushing north left behind flooded basements near the Housatonic River and downed trees and wires throughout South County, according to reports from young Keegan Wellauer of Great Barrington.A weather advisory and flood warnings remain in effect through 8 p.m.
Keegan reports that around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the Housatonic River at the dam in Connecticut, saying the river was rising near flood stage.
In Egremont, fire crews responded to wires down on a tree that was on fire. Power outages were reported from Monterey, New Marlborough and Egremont. The NOAA weather radio on top of Mohawk Mountain (NWS ALBANY) was out of service because of power outages in the area.
In the town of Otis, the Highway Department was dispatched to find a tree fallen on wires. Crews could not find the tree but, luckily, a person driving by saw it and called the Highway and Fire departments. Near Fairview Hospital, it was reported that it was "like a summer thunderstorm" with rain, black skies, lightning and thunder. With snow and ice, it made this storm all in one, he said.
We thank him for that report. Was there flooding or downed trees in your neighborhood? Send information and pictures to info@iberkshires.com.
As of noon Sunday, National Grid was reporting more than 700 customers without power in South County and a handful of outages in North Adams. Western Massachusetts Electric is reporting a similar number of outages, with the bulk of those in the Lee area, where 456 customers are without power. About a third of its Savoy customers, just over a 100, are out and nearby Worthington in Hampshire County reports 54.
Outages can be reported to WMECo at 800-286-2000 or to National Grid at 1-800-465-1212.
The Berkshire County sheriff's office was reporting chunks of ice in the road around 9 Sunday morning along Route 8 in Otis, apparently from an earlier ice jam on the west branch of the Farmington. It was expected to take time to clear the road.
More rain and snow up to 6 inches is expected through the day along with blustery wind, according to the National Weather Service, and Monday doesn't look any better.
