HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - The heavy rains and high winds expected
throughout the weekend in southern New England are hitting the area
hard.

Police in Darien, Conn., reported that more than 50 trees had
fallen in town, taking down power lines and closing roads Saturday
afternoon. Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating say
about 80,000 customers are without power late Saturday.Residents of
Fairfield's shoreline were being urged to evacuate because of
potential flooding.

The Saturday night forecast in coastal Connecticut predicted
gusts as high as 60 miles per hour and 2 inches of rain.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service called for the same
rain amounts and wind gust speeds in southern Rhode Island.

In Boston, winds were expected to reach 55 mph, along with rains
of 1 to 2 inches. In northwestern Massachusetts, ice and up to 5
inches of snow was forecast.