WINTHROP — A brief but fierce rain and wind storm ripped through Winthrop and other central Maine communities Saturday afternoon, knocking down trees, closing roads and taking out electricity to nearly 900 households.

Central Maine Power Co. reported 887 customers were without power in Kennebec County just before 5 p.m. Saturday. Of those, 398 were in Augusta, 116 in Winthrop, 116 in Windsor, 97 in Wayne, and 94 in Vassalboro.

Morton Street, a dead-end, in-town street in Winthrop, was closed because a large tree fell and snapped a power pole on the street. Bearce Road also was closed because a tree fell on power lines, though a police dispatcher said a CMP crew was working on clearing the tree from the line. Part of Stanley Road was closed because of a large tree leaning on wires.

The storm blew through around 4 p.m.

It disrupted 100th anniversary ceremonies at the YMCA Camp of Maine, sending camp alumni, campers, counselors and dignitaries gathered for the event into the camp’s auditorium and dining hall to take shelter, as pine needles and rain fell and blew around the grounds.

The National Weather Service issued a hazardous-weather outlook, warning that scattered showers and thunderstorms could develop Saturday, and a few of those storms could contain strong gusty wind.

Keith Edwards — 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @kedwardskj


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