FOXBORO, MASS. (WHDH) - Thousands of Massachusetts residents were left without power on Christmas as a storm packing soaking rain and strong wind gusts batters the Bay State.
RELATED: Track the storm on interactive radar
As of 2 p.m. on Friday, more than 3,200 people were without power, according to the MEMA outage map.
A high wind warning has been issued for parts of Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Bristol, Nantucket, Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties through 4 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Wind gusts could reach 65 mph in many places with gusts as high as 75 mph on Cape Cod and the Islands.
The damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines, leading to widespread power outages.
A wind advisory is in effect for points further inland.
The winds started whipping around midnight on Friday. They will likely persist into the evening before weakening.
Some cities and towns in Massachusetts are expected to get up to three inches of rain, prompting a flood warning for parts of Berkshire, Franklin, Worcester, Bristol, and Norfolk counties through early Saturday morning.
A flood watch has also been issued for all of New England.
With temperatures nearing 60 degrees on Friday, melting snow coupled with the heavy rain could lead to flooding in areas with poor drainage.
10:30AM UPDATE: High Wind Warning contained to the immediate coastline from the NH seacoast to the North Shore, to within the 95-corridor, SE MA and the Cape / Islands. Wind Advisories for southern NH (inland), the Merrimack Valley, Middlesex Co, & southern Worcester Co. #7news pic.twitter.com/13o0XsvQ46
— Jackie Layer (@WeatherJackie) December 25, 2020
Peak gusts as of 10:30AM Friday: pic.twitter.com/olloP1rbKX
— Jackie Layer (@WeatherJackie) December 25, 2020
11AM Friday: 60s on Christmas (59° for Boston)! High temps were reached earlier this morning. Temps have already dipped a few degrees, but we're still way above normal.
Colder air trickles in later tonight & we'll start off SAT AM with temperatures around the freezing mark. pic.twitter.com/vPLaF0EWzb
— Jackie Layer (@WeatherJackie) December 25, 2020
11:15AM Friday: Flood Warning extended until 2:30PM for Worcester Co. due to 1.5" to 3.0" of rain has already fallen, with an additional 1" of rain possible.
Flood Watch remains for the rest of the region through this afternoon. #7news pic.twitter.com/ON5I9fPxXV
— Jackie Layer (@WeatherJackie) December 25, 2020
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