Severe Storm Creates Power Outages, Potential Flooding

Severe thunderstorms have left more than 2,000 Town of Smithtown residents without power early Monday Morning. 

Long Island Power Authority is reporting that 2,212 customers in the Village of the Branch, 126 in Smithtown and 156 in St. James are without electricity as of 9 a.m Monday. There more than 2,500 outages in the general area, according to its Outage Center. 

As of 11 a.m., service has been restore to most Village of the Branch customers, with outages in Smithtown being assessed. 

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch and a special weather statement for the Long Island area, including all of Suffolk County. Resident are warned of heavy rains, with frequent lightning and the possibility of small hail are possible until 2 p.m. Winds speeds up to 40 miles per hour are expected. 

In addition to severe thunderstorms, the National Weather Service is warning residents to be on the look out for flooding due to heavy rains, where up to 1 inch of rain per hour are possible. 

Motorists are warned not to drive vehicles into flooded roadways, where the depth of the water may not be obvious.