Strong winds knock out power to more than 60,000 Mainers

A tree has fallen onto power lines on Route 114 in Sebago. (WGME)

High winds toppled tree branches across Maine overnight, landing on power lines and knocking out power to tens of thousands of Mainers.

A tree that fell Tuesday morning into power lines on Conesca Road in Raymond caught fire (WGME)

This tree on Conesca Rd. in Raymond has apparently fallen onto power lines and caught fire @WGME pic.twitter.com/tARj8bycMM

— Chandler Knowles (@CameraChandler) October 16, 2018

More than 52,000 were without power at 8 a.m., down from about 60,000 at dawn,according to the Central Maine Power website. Cumberland County was hardest hit with more than 13,000 homes and businesses – nearly 10 percent of all customers in the county – without power. Nearly 3,000 customers were without power in Windham and more than 1,200 in Gorham at the peak of outages.

Gusty winds have caused outages throughout our service areas, mainly due to trees coming into contact w/ power lines. Crews are responding as quickly & safely as possible in order to restore service to our customers. Please report outages online at https://t.co/0H5tp8dugx. pic.twitter.com/pqPbbalD2U

— Central Maine Power (@cmpco) October 16, 2018

Emera Maine reported at 8 a.m. that more than 9,00 customers without power, with the highest concentration of outages in the Blue Hill area.

Strong gusty winds will continue through the morning, with the strongest winds in higher elevations, according to the National Weather Service in Gray. The highest wind gusts recorded overnight include 53 mph at Matinicus Rock, 47 mph at the Portland International Jetport and 44 mph in Cape Neddick, according to the weather service.

A gale warning is in effect until 2 p.m. Winds are predicted to gust to 50 knots and there will seas of 7 to 10 feet, according to the National Weather Service. A high wind warning is in effect until 2 p.m. in Aroostook, Piscataquis and Somerset counties, where there will be winds of 20 to 30 mph with 55 mph gusts. The weather service warns those winds could blow down limbs, trees and power lines.

Several school districts announced delays or cancellations Tuesday morning. There is a 2-hour delay in RSU 58 and RSU 72. There will be no classes at Yarmouth schools, Sebago Elementary School, Andover Elementary School, Athens Community School, Chop Point School, Cornville Regional Charter School and Mountain Valley High School.