Wind Causes Power Outages,Airport Delays in New York Metropolitan Area

Wind Causes Power Outages, Airport Delays in Metropolitan Area
Newsday

November 13, 2003, 1:51 PM EST


NEW YORK (AP) _ Thousands of people were without power Thursday in the
city's eastern and northern suburbs because of high winds blowing trees
into power lines.

The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning through midnight,
predicting "near hurricane force" gusts _ around 65 miles an hour _ in the
afternoon.

The high winds also affected air travel.

Delays of up to three hours were reported at La Guardia Airport for both
arrivals and departures, according to the Port Authority of New York and
New Jersey.

John F. Kennedy International Airport reported no delays.

Departures at Newark Liberty International Airport were delayed by 30
minutes, for both arrivals and departures, a situation that was expected
to worsen as winds picked up throughout the day, said PA spokesman Steve
Coleman.

Long Island experienced the most power outages, with about 11,500 outages
reported at midday. The Long Island Power Authority said the largest
concentration was on the north shore of Nassau County and in western
Suffolk County.

LIPA spokesman Michael Lowndes said the number of outages was expected to
increase as the blustery weather continued through the afternoon.

To the north, Orange and Rockland Utilities reported 8,300 customers
without power on Thursday morning, but 4,500 had power restored by noon.

O&R spokesman Mike Donovan said the largest outage was in Port Jervis,
affecting about 3,000 customers. About 150 customers in Rockland County
lost power.

At midday, Con Edison reported about 1,500 scattered outages throughout
Westchester, 200 outages in the Bronx and about 25 in Queens.

Numerous wind-related incidents _ including cars damaged by blowing
building materials _ were reported throughout the city.

Lowndes, the LIPA spokesman, said the problems could have been worse if
there had been leaves on the trees. "The leaves act like sails in the wind
and cause the trees to sway into power lines."



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