Severe Storm Knocks Out Power, Closes Roads Across Connecticut

A powerful overnight storm swept through Connecticut early Tuesday, March 17, causing widespread damage, multiple road closures, and leaving tens of thousands of customers without power. Severe winds and heavy conditions brought down trees and power lines across the state, prompting emergency responses and leading to hazardous travel conditions and school delays.

Key Takeaways:

Severe winds overnight caused multiple road closures across more than a dozen towns due to downed trees and wires.
Nearly 31,000 Eversource customers and over 700 United Illuminating customers lost power as of 7:45 a.m.
Several school districts, including Thompson and Woodstock, are operating on delays due to dangerous road conditions.
Emergency crews are urging residents to treat all downed wires as live and to use extreme caution.

Extensive Road Closures Hazardous for Morning Commute

The Connecticut Department of Transportation listed numerous closures as of Tuesday morning, impacting major and secondary roads from Portland to Killingworth. Incidents included a downed tree blocking CT-17 in Portland, a tree in wires closing Route 4 in Sharon, and an electrical fire shutting down RT 184 in North Stonington. Local fire departments reported additional hazardous conditions on back roads, urging drivers to seek alternate routes and avoid traveling near any storm damage.

Power Outages Affect Tens of Thousands

Utility companies reported significant service disruptions following the storm. Eversource stated that nearly 31,000 customers, representing about 2.36 percent of its service area, were affected. Communities like Ashford, Coventry, and Groton were among the hardest hit. United Illuminating reported 707 customers without power, primarily in the New Haven area. Crews are actively working to restore services across the state.

School Schedules Disrupted by Hazardous Conditions

Multiple school districts announced delays or impacted bus routes due to the storm’s aftermath. Stafford Public Schools noted that affected bus routes would result in excused tardies for students. Thompson, Brooklyn, and Woodstock Public Schools all implemented two-hour delays. District officials warned that updates would be provided as road conditions and cleanup efforts progressed throughout the morning.

Expert Analysis: The immediate priority is public safety and restoring critical infrastructure, explained a local fire department official. The combination of downed trees entangled with live power lines creates a prolonged and severe hazard, requiring coordinated efforts from utility crews and first responders before normal travel and services can resume.