National Weather Service To Survey Storm Damage In Connecticut

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont said severe thunderstorms with an embedded tornado rolled through parts of Connecticut on Thursday afternoon and the damage was extensive, especially in New Haven and Fairfield counties.

Power was knocked out to more than 70,000 people Thursday and as of Friday morning 35,000 homes and businesses were still without electricity.

It appears that the hardest-hit communities were Branford, North Haven, Hamden, Westport, Madison and Waterbury.

The National Weather Service has not yet confirmed that a tornado or tornadoes touched down; an announcement is expected Friday. NBC Connecticut Chief Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan said after reviewing radar he is convinced a tornado hit Bethany and Hamden at the least. He also reports that 90 mph wind gusts were recorded in Branford.

The National Weather Service said it is sending a team to survey storm damage in New Haven County including Guilford, North Branford, Branford, East Haven, North Haven, Bethany, Hamden and Waterbury. The results are expected tonight.

Fortunately, it looks tranquil Friday, with the return of sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80s. More storms will move in Friday night and Saturday looks rainy and stormy too.

Here is a look at storm reports that have been filed with the National Weather Service. If you have storm damage and would like us to add it to this list please email brian.mccready@patch.com and specify your town and location. If you would like to send us a photo only submit photos that you have taken yourself or are authorized to grant permission for use on Patch. By submitting your content for this storm story you give Patch the right to use it across all Patch sites.

• Large tree uprooted on Lounsbury Street in Waterbury
• Tree and branches down on a house in Naugatuck
• Video of a tree down blocking 1 lane on I-84 in Southbury
• Numerous trees and branches snapped and downed in Montowese section of North Haven
• Multiple large trees uprooted near I-91 and I-40 in North Haven
• 69 mph wind gusts in New Haven
• Multiple large trees down with extensive damage to homes on Palmer Road in North Haven.
• Numerous large trees and power lines down across Branford.
• Tree tops twisted and power lines down on Featherbed Lane in Branford.
• Numerous trees and wires down across Westport.
• One person injured as trees down and wires on car with people trapped on Wilton Road in Westport. One person attempted to exit and was shocked.
• Power poles down on Old Hill Road in Westport.
• Video of a large tree down on a house in Ridgefield
• Trees down across Rocky Brook Road in Wilton
• Trees down on Journey's End Road in Wilton

See also: CT Power Outages Town-By-Town: 35K Without Electricity Friday AM

• Gov.: National Guard On Way To Storm-Ravaged Branford, East Haven
• Tornado Reported In North Haven; 4.5K Without Power
• ‘Enormous Amount Of Damage’ Reported In Hamden
• Michelle Troconis Returns To Court, Seeks Removal Of GPS Device

Issues on the roads this morning:

NORWICH - Road Work on I-395 Northbound between Exits 11 and 13B (2.9 miles) in effect today until Saturday, August 29 at 4:00 pm. The left lane is closed. Reported Friday, August 28 at 6:10 am.

VERNON - Road Work on I-84 Westbound between Exits 66 and 65 (1.2 miles) in effect today until 11:00 am. The 2 left lanes are closed. Reported Friday, August 28 at 5:52 am.

MORRIS - Route 109 CLOSED at Townes Farm Road because of a tree in wires. Reported Thursday, August 27 at 4:14 pm.

NORTH BRANFORD - Route 740 (Totoket Rd) between Brook Lane and Judson Drive CLOSED due to trees down with wires.

NEW MILFORD - NEW MILFORD RT 202 @ RT 109 CLOSED TREE INTO WIRES Reported Thursday, August 27 at 5:25 pm.

BETHANY - BETHANY RT 42 @ RT 63 CLOSED TREE INTO WIRES . Reported Thursday, August 27 at 5:41 pm.

BETHANY - Route 63 ( Amity Road) is closed in both directions at Munson Road because of trees, poles and wires (In Roadway). Reported Thursday, August 27 at 5:54 pm.

SEYMOUR - SR 721 CLOSED at Spruce Street because a tree in wires. Reported Thursday, August 27 at 6:46 pm.

DERBY - Route 115 CLOSED at Mansfield St. due to tree in wires ( ). Reported Friday, August 28 at 6:25 am.

Special Weather Statement for Hartford, Tolland and Windham counties this morning:

Fog, locally dense at times to impact travel for the morning commute.

Webcams and weather observations indicate most of Southern New England is experiencing fog, low clouds or both early this morning. Visibilities in fog have been variable, but have commonly been between one-half to three miles. Locally dense fog with visibilities under one-quarter mile may be possible but would be short-lived. Fog is expected to hamper travel this morning, with gradual improvement anticipated by 8 AM.

Motorists should expect to encounter sudden changes in visibility as fog is encountered. Drive slowly, keeping adequate space between you and the vehicle ahead of you, and use low-beam headlights.