UPDATE: Heavy wind and rain wreaked havoc on New Canaan and other towns in Fairfield County this afternoon.
Nearly 470 Connecticut Light & Power customers in town were without power early this afternoon, about 5 percent of the town's customers. As of 4:40 p.m., just 46 customers had no power. CL&P spokesman Mitch Gross said about 19,000 customers statewide had lost power, and he expected the number to rise as the bad weather passed through the state.
"Some of the fixes are easier than others," he said. "We will try to get the power on as quickly and safely as we possibly can."
Gross also warned customers to not touch downed power lines under any circumstances. "Don't go near them and don't touch them. Call 911 and let the experts handle it."
The National Weather Service had wind and flood advisories for Fairfield County this afternoon. John Murray, a meteorologist with the weather service, said winds this afternoon were 20 mph to 35 mph with gusts reaching as high as 55 mph. Murray said much of the rain In lower Fairfield County should be finished by late this afternoon and heavy winds should die down by the evening. A cold front will follow the rain, forcing temperatures down to the low to mid 30s for southwestern Fairfield County, he said.
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