WINTHROP — A brief but fierce rain and wind storm ripped through Winthrop and other central Maine communities Saturday afternoon, knocking down trees, closing roads and taking out electricity to more than 2,300 households.

Residents reported that hailstones of up to a half-inch in diameter fell in their yards in Winthrop, and the Augusta County Club, in Manchester, posted a photo of a putting green covered with hailstones on its Facebook page.

Central Maine Power Co. reported 2,360 customers were without power in Kennebec County at 7 p.m. Saturday. Of those, 997 were in Winthrop, 431 in Monmouth, 395 in Augusta, 116 in Windsor, 130 in Wayne, 163 in Manchester and 94 in Vassalboro.

Morton Street, a dead-end, in-town street in Winthrop, was closed because a large tree fell and snapped a power pole on the street. Bearce Road also was closed because a tree fell on power lines, though a police dispatcher said a CMP crew was working on clearing the tree from the line. Part of Stanley Road was closed because of a large tree leaning on wires. Both Bearce and Stanley roads were reopened to traffic by 7 p.m., police said.

The storm blew through around 4 p.m. It disrupted 100th anniversary ceremonies at the YMCA Camp of Maine, sending camp alumni, campers, counselors and dignitaries gathered for the event into the camp’s auditorium and dining hall to take shelter, as pine needles and rain fell and blew around the grounds.

The National Weather Service issued a hazardous-weather outlook, warning that scattered showers and thunderstorms could develop Saturday afternoon, and a few of those storms could contain strong, gusty wind. The service forecasted a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Saturday night. Sunday was expected to be sunny with a high near 80 degrees.

Keith Edwards — 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @kedwardskj


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