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Town-by-town damage reports: Toppled trees, downed power lines as storm wreaks havoc on Mass.

WELLESLEY, Mass. — A wind-driven rainstorm is wreaking havoc on Massachusetts on Monday morning, toppling trees and damaging power lines in many communities.

Police departments across the state announced road closures due to storm-related issues as MEMA reported tens of thousands of power outages.

A high wind warning is in effect in much of the state, as well as wind advisories and flood watches. A ground stop was also issued at Logan Airport.

In West Roxbury, a tree came crashing down on a house off of VFW Parkway. There were no reports of any injuries.

In Wellesley, a driver was lucky he wasn’t hurt when a large tree and live wires came down on his car on Laurel Avenue.

In Braintree, the whipping winds sent a set of traffic lights crashing to the ground in the city’s Five Corners area. Drivers were urged to avoid the area and expect delays.

Wrentham Police Chief Bill McGrath said Route 1A was closed from the town of Norfolk to Wrentham Center due to “multiple power poles” down across the roadway.

“Will likely be closed all day,” McGrath said in a tweet.

In Millis, multiple large branches snapped off of a tree and landed on a home in the town, the police department said.

“Please be advised that as this storm continues, the more difficult it will be to drive safely,” the department wrote in a tweet. “There are multiple road closures and detours to bypass flooded and unsafe roadways throughout town. Charge up your devices, locate your batteries, and stay off the roads if possible.”

Please be advised that as this storm continues on, the more difficult it will be to drive safely. There are multiple...

Posted by Millis Police Department on Monday, December 18, 2023

“Please be careful on the roadways this AM,” the Dedham Police Department wrote in a tweet. “Drive slow and stay away from any downed trees or wires. Be safe.”

MassDOT warned of delays on the southbound side of Interstate 95 in Foxboro, where a downed tree in the highway was snarling traffic near mile marker 13.8.

Police in Westwood warned of closures between Grove and Westfield streets and urged drivers to seek alternate routes.

A tree fell on power lines and a passing vehicle in the area of Mendon Street in Upton, prompting closures near the Mendon town line.

“Thankfully there were no injuries. National Grid crews have been contacted and are responding,” the Upton Police Department wrote in a tweet.

Canton police reported that Washington Street at Turnpike Street along Route 138 was closed due to downed power poles and a transformer.

Utility crews are on the scene however no estimation of when the road will reopen. Please seek an alternate route,” the department wrote in a tweet.

There was a similar scene in Wayland, where downed trees and wires fell on a school bus in the area of Loker Road. Everyone onboard the bus got off safely.

In a tweet, Wellesley police wrote, “Lots of trees and wires coming down all over town. Some power outages were reported in the west end of town.

A tree was blown over in Wellesley on Windermere Lane and it sliced through the roof of a home. There were no reported injuries.

The Saugus Fire Department said it was “dealing with an overwhelming amount of calls.”

In a social post, firefighters wrote, “There’s a Power Outage in the area of upper Essex St past the Mall which is triggering fire alarms & CO alarms, Motor vehicle accidents including a dump truck rollover & Hazmat on Water St. And Wires, trees and telephone poles down in the roads and on houses all over town on top of several medical emergencies happening as well.”

Please bear with us as we're dealing with an overwhelming amount of calls this morning. There's a Power Outage in the...

Posted by Saugus Firefighters Local 1003 on Monday, December 18, 2023

Additional wind damage reports, according to the NWS:

715 AM: Haverhill, MA: Merrill Street tree down with primaries blocking the road. School bus can not get through. Numerous other trees down in town. 3,200+ customers without power.

713 AM: Hatfield, MA: Tree down on Wires blocking Route 5

711 AM: Boston, MA: 163 F Street - Tree down on house, Perkins Street - Tree down, American Legion Highway - Tree and Wires down, Lambert avenue - Tree down

703 AM: Plainfield, CT: Trees and Wires down on Cemetery Lane and Cady Lane

655 AM: Westport, MA: County Street - Tree down

655 AM: Dartmouth, MA: Allen Street at Sable Avenue - Wires down

653 AM: Carver, MA: Tree and Wires down on 38 Holmes street

652 AM: Hingham, MA: Lincoln Street - Utility Pole Down

649 AM: Bridgewater, MA: Large Limb Down on wires - no Street given

648 AM: Canton, MA: Tree down blocking Route 138 - road closed 639 AM: Hingham, MA: Spring Street - Tree down

632 AM: Spencer, MA: Large Limb down on 121 Mechanic Street

629 AM: Boston, MA: Tree down on West Roxbury Parkway

627 AM: Fairhaven, MA: Large Tree down on New Boston Road near Route 6

627 AM: Westport, MA: Adamsville Road by Cornell Road - Tree down, several other trees and wires down in town including a tree down on High tension wires

624 AM: New Bedford, MA: Large Tree down - no Street given

620 AM: Rochester, MA: Tree down blocking the area of 100 Marion Road

614 AM: Mendon, MA: Numerous Tree limbs and Power lines down with power outages in town

604 AM: Marlborough, CT: Tree down on Wires blocking Route 66

533 AM: New Bedford, MA: Tree down on 2 cars with a light pole down in the area of 53 to 56 Emerson Street

531 AM: Rochester, MA: Utility Pole down in roadway with Power lines down blocking a driveway on 631 County Road, Transformer fire and wires down on 85 High Street

Boston 25 is monitoring the region for additional damage reports and will add them to this story as they come in.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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