Tens of thousands without power as damaging winds wreak havoc on Bay State

BOSTON (WHDH) - Strong, damaging winds are toppling power lines and trees, leaving a trail of destruction behind and knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers across Massachusetts on Monday.

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The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency reported that more than 50,000 residents were without power as of 9 p.m.

Parts of the Bay State saw wind gusts reach 70 miles per hour.

The strongest winds arrived Monday afternoon in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

The system is expected to leave the area Monday tonight.

In Natick, the roof of a home on Ledge Lane was smashed open by a large tree branch. No one was home at the time.

Several large tree branches broke loose in Concord and landed on the roof of a home, causing structural damage.

Tree limbs pierced the windshield of a car traveling through Bedford. The driver and passenger escaped without serious injury.

In Nahant, John Gage captured video of the wind lifting up shingles on the roof of a home.

In Milton, a car was smashed to pieces by a gigantic tree that was blown over on Randolph Avenue in the area of Brook Road and Adams Street. Two people had to be extricated from the vehicle. No one was seriously injured.

An enormous tree was uprooted in Franklin and blown onto a car on Dean Avenue. The vehicle was completely squashed. It’s not clear if anyone was injured.

A car was also crushed by a tree in Quincy. The owner was not inside.

In Duxbury, a large tree came crashing down on West Street at Lincoln Street.

A tree also crashed down on a vehicle in the town. The driver was not hurt.

In Westborough, a tree fell on a BMW on South Street. Two people were evaluated at the scene but they were not injured.

Multiple trees were uprooted in Reading, crushing cars and damaging homes. No injuries were reported.

In Boston, the wind left a cluster of trees dangling on power lines over Seldon Street in Dorchester. Eversrource was notified.

A fallen branch nailed the back of a parked car on London Street in East Boston. No one was hurt.

Summer Street in Ashland was closed due to downed power lines that sparked a fire.

The Ashland Animal Control building was evacuated after several large trees fell around it. No injuries were reported and all of the animals were safely removed.

In Newton, a tree toppled over against a home on Harrington Street. Downed trees also tore down power lines on Concord Street.

Multiple utility poles were blown to the ground on Route 9 at Weston Road. Detours were set up in the area.

A large section of copper came loose from the St. Patrick’s steeple in Natick. Pedestrian and vehicle traffic was blocked off between Union and Washington streets.

Emergency officials in Medfield responded to four reports of vehicles being crushed by trees. No serious injuries were reported.

Below is a look at what kind of damage the strong winds can cause:

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