Wicked and Wild Winds knock out power in Northeast US*

POSTED: 0305 GMT (1105 HKT), October 29, 2006

NEW YORK (AP) -- Strong, wicked winds and heavy rains toppled trees and
brought down power lines from Maine to Maryland on Saturday, sending
utility crews scrambling to restore power to thousands.

Wild wind gusts exceeding 55-70 mph knocked out power Saturday to nearly
a quarter-million people in the New York City area.

The worst problems were on Long Island, where 78,683 customers -- about
228,000 people -- were without power at noon. Crews restored electricity
to many of those, but winds knocked down more wires later in the afternoon.

About 7,500 customers still lacked power on Long Island on Saturday evening.

Gusts up to 70 mph were recorded in Maine, and nearly 48,000 people were
without power Saturday evening.

Officials were monitoring small rivers and streams for potential
flooding. The Coast Guard put units on alert and issued warnings to
mariners.

An estimated 30,000 homes in central and eastern Massachusetts lost
power. The National Weather Service said that a flood warning would be
in effect across the state Sunday, and that winds could take out more
power lines.

Nearly 9,000 people were in the dark in Maryland, Baltimore Gas and
Electric reported. Utility crews were expected to continue working power
Sunday.

In central and northern New Jersey, the winds toppled trees and power
lines, cutting power to about 6,000 customers. That number was down to
2,000 by Saturday night.

A wind advisory issued for the entire state was expected to remain in
effect through Sunday night, with winds from 20 to 30 mph and gusts
reaching 45 mph.

In New Hampshire, a man drowned after his kayak overturned in Jackson
and he was swept downstream, officials said. The East Branch River was
running fast because of the heavy rains, said Sgt. Jim Juneau of the New
Hampshire Fish and Game office.

Elsewhere, scattered rain and snow showers developed in the Great Lakes
and Ohio Valley. A region from the Carolinas through Florida saw showers
and strong thunderstorms.

The West remained mostly dry.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states ranged from 12 degrees at Kremmling,
Colorado, to 89 degrees in downtown Los Angeles.