UPDATE: A powerful wind storm swept through Greater Lowell on December 15, 2023, toppling trees and knocking out power to thousands as emergency crews raced to respond. With gusts reaching as high as 81 mph reported at the Blue Hill Observatory, the National Weather Service confirmed the storm’s intensity, leading to widespread damage across the region.
Emergency radio broadcasts were inundated with reports of downed wires and fallen trees throughout the day. In the Belvidere neighborhood of Lowell, police closed a section of River Road after a tree snapped and landed on power lines. Local resident Williana Aquino, who returned home to find the damage, said, “He didn’t know it was that local,” referring to her partner’s surprise at receiving National Grid alerts about outages.
Across Greater Lowell, the landscape was littered with fallen branches and trees. On Pawtucket Boulevard, a tree collapse shortly before noon forced police to block outbound traffic until crews could clear the scene. Another significant incident occurred at the entrance of Greater Lowell Technical High School in Tyngsboro, where a fallen tree took down power lines, disrupting traffic lights at the busy intersection.
The National Weather Service had issued a wind advisory in anticipation of the storm, with meteorologist Torry Dooley describing it as “a robust wind storm” linked to a potent cold front. Dooley explained that strong winds aloft, moving at over 100 mph, transferred energy to the ground, resulting in frequent gusts of 40 to 60 mph in localized areas.
By 5 p.m. on Friday, National Grid reported nearly 800 active outages statewide, affecting approximately 36,500 customers. Thousands in Greater Lowell experienced power disruptions throughout the day as crews worked tirelessly to restore service. Dooley noted that while reports of downed trees and branches on cars were prevalent, there had been no significant damage reported from the storm.
As the strongest gusts began to subside late Friday afternoon, the wind advisory remained in effect until 7 a.m. Saturday, with residual gusts of 35 to 45 mph expected overnight. Fortunately, calmer conditions are forecasted for Saturday, with mostly sunny skies, though winter chill will return, bringing highs in the upper 30s and temperatures dropping into the 20s overnight.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as cleanup efforts progress. Residents are encouraged to stay updated on power restoration and road conditions as crews work to clear debris and restore normalcy to the area.
For the latest updates, follow Aaron Curtis on X @aselahcurtis or on Bluesky @aaronscurtis.bsky.social.
