Boston

FIRST ALERT: Damaging Winds Downing Trees, Power Lines Across Region

A First Alert remains in effect for damaging wind gusts through Monday night with the potential for a few new spots of damage Tuesday. The culprit is a storm center swirling over eastern Canada, sucking cold Canadian air under its belly on a westerly wind roaring across New England.

These winds have a history of widespread wind damage in the Great Lakes and upstate New York and will bring downed tree limbs, trees and power lines to New England as well.

After ramping up incrementally but steadily through Monday, following scattered morning snow bursts, these wind gusts will reach their peak between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. with gusts as high as 80 mph possible in isolated locales, but much more common will be gusts of 50 to 60 mph, still enough to knock out power to tens of thousands of New England power customers by day’s end.

As with any wind event, keep an eye out for falling limbs and trees and use caution working outside, securing any lightweight objects including scaffolding. While the winds will generally step below damaging levels after midnight Monday, some limbs and trees compromised by the roaring gusts may still fall Tuesday, with gusts still gusting near 50 mph at times.

Sunshine Tuesday represents dry air that will maintain a hold on New England until clouds increase later Wednesday ahead of the next storm — a weak one expected to bring snow back to the region Wednesday evening and continue through the Thursday morning commute with at least a couple inches of accumulation: enough for a First Alert Thursday morning for potential commute impact.

Our exclusive First Alert 10-day shows another storm chance Friday night into Saturday, TBD on precipitation type, but likely departing for a dry Sunday.

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