By JUDY RATTNER
A severe thunderstorm warning issued Tuesday afternoon by the National Weather Service for areas including southern Nassau County proved to be accurate as a strong storm hit Rockville Centre and produced nickel-sized hail, high winds, loud thunder, vivid lightning and heavy rain. The storm, which hit the village at approximately 3:40, caused power outages in parts of the village, downing trees and electric wires and causing drainage problems.
Crews were dispatched to restore power but a village spokesman warned that in addition to initial storm-related blackouts, in cases where there are trees down on wires, power to those cables must be cut before crews can clear the trees. So residents in those areas can expect to have brief continuing outages until all damage is repaired.
Forecasters said the severe storm warning would expire at 4:15 p.m. as the storm moved east at 15 m.p.h., but a flash flood warning is also in effect for the area until 6:30 p.m. Meteorologists issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 7 p.m. for the entire metropolitan region.
