Wind warning brings power outage threat to WMass

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - Western Massachusetts is expected to feel the effects of strong winds from Hurricane Sandy, and where there are winds, there is the threat for power outages.

High wind warnings are in effect for all of western Massachusetts through Tuesday. Winds could gust as high as 60 miles per hour, which are tropical storm-force wind gusts. Sustained winds could be between 30 and 45 miles per hour across the region, especially during the overnight hours.

In preparation for the winds, people have been buying items they expect they'll need during a power outage. The Home Depot in Chicopee reports already selling out of C, D and 6-volt lantern batteries. Gas tanks are gone, and there is nothing left in the flashlight section except for bare shelves.

If you want to buy a generator, good luck! The 52 generators that they received on Saturday at $700 a piece were so popular that they had to be sold in a ticketing system.

Winds look to strengthen as the day progresses, with the strongest winds happening this afternoon, tonight and into tomorrow morning.

People living in higher elevations, such as the Berkshires and the Worcester Hills, should expect the strongest wind gusts from this storm, though the winds in the Pioneer Valley will also be very strong, and as such the power outage threat is region-wide.

To track the latest power outage figures, Western Massachusetts Electric Company and National Grid have set up real-time power outage maps on their websites.