Storm Outage Update: 94,000 Without Power In New Hampshire (2024)

Weather

Companies work to restore power after blustery weather hits NH; trees down everywhere; temperatures drop, roads will freeze, officials warn.

Posted Fri, Dec 23, 2022 at 7:16 am ET|Updated Sat, Dec 24, 2022 at 1:17 am ET

CONCORD, NH — Power is still out for tens of thousands of electric customers in New Hampshire after blustery weather conditions — including heavy rain and wind gusts, moved into the region on Thursday night and wreaked havoc on the state during the past 24 hours.

Heavy rain soaked the state for most of the day but with windy conditions. But around 5 p.m., gusts began to increase, leading to downed trees and branches all over the state and significant power outages.

Updated at 1 a.m. on Dec. 24.

Around 7:30 p.m., outages in the state appeared to peak at around 132,000. Since then, the state's four utilities have restored power to thousands.

At around 1 a.m. on Saturday, 94,000 electric customers were without power.

Eversource, the state’s largest utility, reported about 70,000 customers without power, with significant outages in Amherst, Bedford, Londonderry, Manchester, Merrimack, Milford, Nashua, Windham, and several surrounding communities. Gilford, Rochester, Barrington, Laconia, Loudon, Weare, Pittsfield, and Belmont all have between 2,000 and 5,000 customers without power.

Restoration times were unknown at post time.

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The New Hampshire Electric Co-Op has around 16,000 customers without power, including significant outages in Moultonborough, Raymond, Nottingham, Gilmanton, Barnstead, Lee, and other communities in the Lakes Region and North Country.

Around 13,000 Unitil customers were without power in Concord, the capital region, and on the Seacoast.

More than 9,100 Concord customers were without power, 43 percent of the city, at the height of the outages. By 1 a.m., there were around 1,900 without power. About 1,200 in Bow were without power, while 128 were out in Boscawen. Smaller outages were reported in Allenstown, Canterbury, Boscawen, Dunbarton, Hopkinton, Loudon, Salisbury, and Webster.

On the Seacoast, Stratham has 825 out, Kingston has nearly 500 customers without power, and Newton has 476 out. Exeter has 327 out, Plaistow has 276 out, Danville has 222 out, and Hampton has around 215 customers out. More minor outages were reported in Atkinson, Brentwood, Greenland, Hampton Falls, Kensington, Seabrook, and Seabrook.

The company posted "assessing" as its restoration times.

Liberty Utilities reported about 500 customers without power, including more than 300 customers

Trees and wires are down on roads all around the state.

A tree fell near a home on Pleasant Street early in the storm, while around 5 p.m. on Friday, a tree reportedly fell into a manufactured home on Centerwood Drive. Firefighters were sent to a report of wires onto a car with people inside on Mansion Road and Stark Highway in Dunbarton and on Hopkinton Road, too.

A utility pole is blocking Hopkinton Road, not far from Fisk Road. Concord police are reporting the road was closed entirely. According to scanner chatter, trees are also blocking parts of Hoit Road — with cars trapped between the trees.

A 180-foot tall cellphone tower was reportedly knocked down on North Pembroke Road in Pembroke, knocking out cellphone service to some areas in East Concord and surrounding communities. Concord police tested its radios earlier today, and all were working, according to scanner chatter.

Weather Updates

The National Weather Service issued another wind advisory around 3 a.m. on Friday, warning of wind between 15 to 25 mph but gusts reaching 55 mph for most of the state. The advisory is through 2 a.m. on Saturday.

The NWS issued a flood warning stating urban and other low-lying and flood-prone locations may see rapidly rising small streams and other water issues. The warning is through noon on Friday, but additional warnings may be issued.

Forecasters also issued another hazardous weather outlook warning of the quick drop in temperatures expected Friday night.

“Much colder air will arrive from the west-southwest late today and quickly drop temperatures below freezing,” the alert stated. “A flash freeze is possible and conditions may quickly get icy overnight.”

Company Updates

Unitil opened its System Emergency Operations Center to coordinate response efforts after outages were reported in its coverage area.

Due to the potentially severe nature of the storm, Unitil secured a complement of internal and third-party crews prepared to respond as the day unfolds.

“We are expecting a long-duration event, with hazardous conditions possible in our region for an extended period,” Unitil Media Relations Manager Alec O’Meara said. “We will be working with first responders to address public safety issues and restoring power where conditions allow as the highest winds pass through.”

Eversource said crews from Texas, Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia, and Canada were supporting the company's effort to restore power to the state.

“We know the timing of this storm couldn’t have been worse as people are trying to prepare for the Christmas holiday,” Eversource President of Electric Operations in New Hampshire Doug Foley said. “The damaging winds and heavy rains with this storm brought down trees and tree limbs onto overhead lines and equipment causing damage to the electric system and widespread power outages in most of the 211 communities we serve. We have hundreds of crews on the ground working but with outages being so widespread, as well as the potential for additional damage, it will take time. Our employees — many of whom have sacrificed their holiday time off — are committed to working around-the-clock until all of our customers affected by this storm have their power back.”

State Officials Warn To Drive Safely

The New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management urged drivers to be cautious as temperatures began dropping around the state on Friday.

Officials said temperatures began dropping around 6 p.m., with rain turning to freezing rain and flurries, making roadways slippery and dangerous.

“If you must travel, make sure your vehicle’s emergency kit is ready for winter,” HSEM Director Robert Buxton said. “Keep extra space between your vehicle and the one in front of it. If you lose power and need to heat your home, keep safety in mind and never use a gas range or oven as an alternative heating source.”

Buxton also offered the following safety reminders:

• Visit ReadyNH.gov to learn more about keeping safe during emergencies.
• Stay informed by signing up for NH Alerts and monitoring National Weather Service radio or broadcast weather reports.
• Slow down and move over for emergency vehicles.
• Never crowd the plow.
• Clear all snow and ice off your car, including your roof, around lights, and license plates before traveling.
• Bridges, overpasses, and exposed road areas are the most prone to slippery conditions.
• Use flashlights, rather than candles, for emergency lighting.
• Never operate a generator indoors.
• Only use a generator that has been wired to the building electrical service by a professional electrician.

The latest weather conditions can be found on the front page of every Patch.com site in the United States, including the 14 New Hampshire Patch news and community websites covering Amherst, Bedford, Concord, Exeter, Hampton, Londonderry, Manchester, Merrimack, Milford, Nashua, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Salem, Windham, and Across NH. Local weather reports for New Hampshire are posted on Sundays and Thursdays. Alerts are published when needed.

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