Dutchess, Orange counties hardest hit by power outages

PHOTOGRAPHER: The Associated Press

High winds from fast-moving thunderstorms are being blamed for knocking out power to about 20,000 utility customers scattered from New York’s far western corner to the Hudson Valley.

Central Hudson Gas and Electric reports more than 16,000 outages this afternoon, most of them in Dutchess and Orange counties.

The National Weather Service in Albany recorded early morning wind gusts between 45 mph and 65 mph at county airports in the region.

National Grid says its outages are down to less than 1,900 after a peak of 3,300 earlier in the day. Most are in Allegany County in western New York and Columbia County near Albany. NYSEG and Orange and Rockland Utilities report a total of 2,000 outages in eastern New York.

There are no immediate reports of major damage from the storms.