Tens of thousands of power outages have been reported across Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey following severe storms that brought down trees and utility lines. As of 8 a.m. on March 17, 2026, more than 53,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts were without electricity, with the outages peaking at nearly 65,000 earlier that morning.
Eversource reported over 10,000 customers without power, primarily in Falmouth, while National Grid faced even greater challenges with more than 41,000 customers affected, particularly on the North and South Shore and in Worcester County.
The storms were characterized by peak wind gusts reaching 81 miles per hour at the Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory in Milton, contributing significantly to the damage. A notable incident involved a falling tree that brought down a power line, which began to spark in a yard in Norwell, Massachusetts.
In addition to Massachusetts, the Delaware Valley is also experiencing significant outages. Crews are working diligently to restore power to thousands of residents following the storms on March 16, 2026. Reports indicate that downed wires and poles have led to numerous road closures in Moorestown, New Jersey.
In Pennsylvania, the impact of the storms was felt as well, with strong winds causing the roof of New Santiago’s restaurant in Coopersburg to blow off. Multiple reports of storm damage have emerged from Lehigh County, including a tree that fell into a home along the 300 block of Wilson Avenue near Mantua Pike in Woodbury Heights, Gloucester County.
Shane Gokey, a representative from Eversource, commented on the situation, stating, “Little chaos, first thing. We’re just addressing them as they come in, obviously.” Residents are advised to stay clear of downed power lines and to call 911 immediately if they encounter any hazardous situations.
As restoration efforts continue, the full extent of the damage and the timeline for power restoration remain uncertain. Details remain unconfirmed.
