8 a.m. UPDATE: 2,500 homes and businesses remain without power in urban Belleville, mostly in central and eastern parts of the city. Elexicon Energy expects all power to be restored by Friday evening.
It didn’t last long but many people will remember the storms that ripped through the Quinte region Thursday afternoon.
The storms moved in after 3 p.m. bringing torrential downpours and tree snapping wind gusts.
At one point at the storms height roofing materials were blown off of the roofs of at least three Belleville Downtown District buildings at the north end of Front Street, those containing Chilango’s Restaurant, Haus and Home, and the Freedom Support Centre across the the street. Luckily there were no injuries.
(Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
(Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
(Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
Tree branches were strewn all over the place and some large trees were completely uprooted. Damage was heaviest in the east end of Belleville.
Despite the damage there were no reports of tornadoes.
By the time the storms passed through, around 35,000 Hydro One customers were without power in the Quinte region with the biggest outage starting north of Highway 401 in Belleville and stretching up through Madoc and Marmora. There were also significant outages in Quinte West, Brighton, Trent Hills and in Prince Edward County around Rossmore and Fenwood Gardens.
Several thousand homes and businesses in the City of Belleville were without electricity.
As crews worked through the night, most customers had their power returned.
(Photo: Belleville Neighbors Facebook)
However as of 3 a.m. Friday morning, Elexicon Energy crews were still working in seven areas, all in the eastern and central parts of Belleville where downed trees and branches had caused power outs.
Meanwhile, in rural areas, most of the power is back on but there were still small outages scattered throughout the Quinte region and crews were working to get to each incident to assess damage and to make repairs.
It’s hoped all the lights will be back on by midday Friday.
(Photo: John Spitters/Quinte News)
