“It is unclear what caused the outage, but the region is under a high wind warning from the National Weather Service until 6 a.m. Tuesday.” This statement reflects the uncertainty surrounding the recent power outage that struck downtown Fall River, Massachusetts, on March 16, 2026. The outage left approximately 2,000 residents and businesses without power as high winds wreaked havoc across the area.
The outage was first reported around 7 p.m. and affected key areas along North Main Street from Government Center to President Avenue, and on South Main to Middle Street. National Grid confirmed that the cause of the outage was wind-related, with fallen trees and limbs pulling down power lines in multiple spots downtown. As of March 17, statewide power outages in Massachusetts were reported to be around 11,000 to 12,000 customers.
Residents in the affected areas experienced a range of disruptions, including darkened traffic signals and businesses closing early or operating on generators. The sustained winds in the area reached between 25 to 35 mph, with gusts peaking at up to 55 mph, contributing to the widespread damage.
What observers say
National Grid urged affected customers to stay away from downed wires, advising them to assume that they are energized and to report hazards by calling 800-322-3223 or using the company’s online reporting tools. Crews were dispatched promptly to assess the damage and begin restoration efforts, although details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact number of households affected, which has been reported as between 2,000 to 2,100.
The region had been under a high wind warning from the National Weather Service leading up to the outage, a situation that has not been uncommon for Fall River, which has experienced wind-related outages before during nor’easters and frontal passages. As restoration efforts continue, National Grid’s outage map indicated that power was estimated to be restored around 9 p.m. on March 16.
As the situation develops, residents are advised to stay informed about restoration timelines, which depend on the extent of the damage, crew availability, and ongoing weather conditions. The utility company is working diligently to restore power to those affected by this significant outage.
