Officials Concerned Ice, Wind Could Lead To Widespread Power Outages

GREENWICH, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- Plummeting temperatures and more mixed precipitation are posing real concerns for utility crews.

Ice and wind are the biggest causes of outages, PSEG Long Island spokeswoman Elizabeth Flagler said.

"If the power lines do ice up, it just makes them heavy, which can bring them down," Flagler told WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs.

Listen to Officials Concerned Ice, Wind Could Lead To Widespread Power Outages

Flagler said customers should report outages quickly, and she reminded people never to go near fallen power lines.

A full incontingent of utility crews were out and active Monday, she said.

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Meanwhile, officials in Connecticut are concerned that a blast of extreme cold Monday night and into Tuesday could potentially disrupt electricity to homes and businesses.

Dan Warzoha, emergency management coordinator in Greenwich, said temperatures there could dip to around zero degrees -- with wind chills as low as -20.

Listen to Greenwich Official: Extreme Cold Will Test New England Power Grid

Warzoha told WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau the frigid weather will be a test for the entire power grid because it is expected to hit all New England states.

"Major concern is high impact of a long duration on the power grid and its ability to sustain the entire New England region with this brutal cold coming in," Warzoha said.