Winds knock out power to hundreds in Nassau

About 2,000 residents of Great Neck and Kings Point were without power Monday afternoon after a tree fell as a result of heavy winds, taking down primary wires, a spokesman for the Long Island Power Authority said.

The tree fell about 2:15 p.m. just outside LIPA's Great Neck substation, he said. As of just past 4 p.m. 286 customers were still affected, he said.

By 6 p.m. less than five customers were without power, according LIPA's web site.

Long Island has had wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service in Upton. The service has issued a "red flag warning" in effect until 9 p.m., indicating that any fires that start are likely to spread quickly.