The region's primary electric utility anticipates significant power outages from Saturday's winter storm, which is forecast to deliver a combination of heavy snow and wind gusts reaching 60 mph in some areas.
Eversource President of Connecticut Electric Operations Steve Sullivan says the company is prepared for what it calls a "Level 5" emergency: power out for up to 125,000 homes and businesses, with a 1-to-3 day recovery period.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for most of the state, with 7 to 18 inches of snow forecast for Hartford, plus wind gusts up to 50 mph. New London County, in the southeast corner of the state, is under a Blizzard Warning, with 13 to 17 inches of snow forecast, plus wind up to 60 mph.
"These high winds around the state, especially in the southeast, they could bring down trees," says Sullivan, "they likely will bring down limbs, and that is what causes the power outages."
Sullivan also expects the severe conditions to hamper recovery time: "Our ability to get around the state... we do ask for people to have patience on that. We need to get out and drive through this snow, and then once we get to the site, our line workers, we're asking them to go 40 feet up in the air in those same conditions: the cold, the snow, the wind, and make repairs to a high-voltage electric system."
