Severe thunderstorms leaves 12,000 customers without power in New Brunswick

NB Power says it restored power to the majority of customers by 7 p.m.

CBC News Posted: Aug 06, 2016 3:46 PM AT Last Updated: Aug 06, 2016 7:34 PM AT

 

More than 12,000 customers lost power as a thunderstorm ripped through western New Brunswick Saturday afternoon, bringing with it wind, rain and lightning.

The area most affected was between Woodstock and Fredericton, according to NB Power.  A transmission outage cut power to about 11,7000 homes and businesses in the Fredericton area.

By 7 p.m., the utility said it had restored power to the majority of those customers.

Strong winds, possible hail

The storms tracked eastward at about 35 km/h, capable of producing very strong wind gusts and up to "nickel-size hail" and heavy rain, Environment Canada said.

The weather service had issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Fredericton and southern York County on Saturday.

By mid-afternoon, it warned the storm could "intensify rapidly," but as evening came, its warning was limited to northern parts of the province.

Severe warnings are issued when thunderstorms are likely to produce large hail, damaging winds or torrential rainfall.