Rain and wind whip through New England, leaving 2 dead and hundreds of thousands without power

Massachusetts was drenched on Monday as a strong storm blew through the region, flooding roads, knocking out power, closing schools and grounding flights at Logan airport. Two men in New England were killed in the storm.

An 89-year-old Hingham, Massachusetts, man died early Monday when high winds caused a tree to fall on a trailer, according to Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz. Robert Horky was pulled from the trailer with severe head trauma and was pronounced dead at South Shore Hospital.

Police in Windham, Maine, said part of a tree fell and killed a man removing debris from his roof. Police did not immediately name the man, and they encouraged residents to stay indoors.

In the Boston area, the National Weather Service reported wind gusts up to 68 miles per hour. At Blue Hills Observatory, there was a gust of 90 miles per hour.

Nearly 300,000 homes and businesses across the state were without power midday, according to data from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. Around 4 p.m., the number dropped to 266,000.

"We do know that this storm is going to have some real impacts on the system," said Eversource spokesperson Priscilla Ress. "If you see downed wires, call 911, stay clear. There's no such thing as a safe distance to a downed wire."

Downed wires can electrify things in the area, like trees and puddles, so keeping a wide distance is key, she noted.

Ress asked customers for patience, as strong winds make it dangerous for crews to go up in bucket trucks to access power lines, which can delay power restoration.

Flights out of Logan International Airport were grounded Monday morning due to high winds, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. More than 100 flights were canceled and about 375 were delayed, according to the flight-tracking service FlightAware.

Monday's wet weather comes exactly one week after another blustery storm hit Massachusetts. This means the ground was already wet from the week before, and soft, damp soil makes it easier for trees to fall and damage power lines.

The temperatures reached 60 degrees in the Boston area. But WBUR meteorologist Danielle Noyes said temperatures will drop to around 40 degrees on Tuesday, and skies will be partly cloudy.

With reporting by WBUR's Danielle Noyes, Katie Cole, John Bender and Amy Gorel; and The Associated Press.