The SouthCoast has been feeling the effects of a “bomb cyclone” on Wednesday, with dark skies, high winds and driving rain.
As of 5 p.m., all of Bristol County, all of Rhode Island, and much of eastern Massachusetts are under a high wind warning from the National Weather Service. The warning is expected to stay in place until 1 a.m. Thursday.
The area is also under flood watch until 7 a.m. Thursday.
When all is said and done, Massachusetts could see about 2 to 3 inches of rain by Thursday, when the storm is expected to end. Some areas of the state could see four inches of rain.
A vehicle sends water flying into the air as it makes its way across a deep puddle of water on Cove Road in New Bedford as heavy rain falls across the region.
How high are the winds due to the bomb cyclone?
According to the National Weather Service, on Wednesday afternoon the SouthCoast has been seeing winds of about 26 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph.
Overnight, wind gusts are expected to rise up to 60 mph.
What is a bomb cyclone? Massachusetts being hit by major storm today
Are there any power outages?
With high winds, power outages are likely.
As of 5:15 p.m., National Grid is so far reporting very few outages, in Westport, Somerset and Swansea, of less than 5 customers each. A larger outage is reported in Dighton of about 260 people.
Eversource says about 100 of its customers in Westport are without power. Other scattered outages are reported in Acushnet, Rochester and Marion.
An AccuWeather graphic depicting what causes a “bomb cyclone,” which comes from the word, “bombogenesis.”
How do I report a power outage?
NATIONAL GRID: To report an electrical outage, call 800-465-1212.
EVERSOURCE: To report a service outage, call 800-592-2000.
What should I do if there’s flooding?
With the area on flood watch and rain heavy at times, avoid areas that are known to be flood-prone. If you’re in a car and are caught in a downpour, never drive through water in a flash flood – turn around and seek an alternate route.
What’s the forecast for the rest of the week?
According to the National Weather Service, once this bomb cyclone is over, expect sunny or mostly clear skies through the rest of the week, with gentle winds and temperatures in the mid-30s.
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: ‘Bomb cyclone’ storm brings high wind, few power outages to SouthCoast