NEW HAMPSHIRE (MyKeeneNow) Powerful thunderstorms swept across New Hampshire on Thursday afternoon and evening, bringing torrential rain, damaging wind gusts and widespread power outages that left more than 20,000 customers without electricity statewide at the height of the storm.

The fast-moving storm system toppled trees and power lines, blocked roads and prompted numerous emergency responses across the Monadnock Region and beyond as utility crews and first responders worked to clear hazards and restore power.

According to the New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, more than 20,000 customers were without power as of 6 p.m. Thursday.

“If you lose power, keep you and your family safe,” said Robert Buxton, director of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “Never run a generator indoors. If you come across downed wires, stay away and call 911. Utility crews are out working hard to restore outages as they happen. If you come across a crew on the road, give them room to work.”

In Cheshire County, emergency crews responded to multiple reports of downed trees and wires as the storm moved through the region.

A tree brought down on Route 137 near Frost Pond Road in Dublin forced a temporary full road closure Thursday afternoon. State transportation officials later reported the roadway had reopened after crews cleared the obstruction.

In Swanzey, a section of Route 10 was closed due to storm damage, while another incident involving a tree striking a home reportedly caused structural damage. Firefighters responded to multiple locations throughout town as calls for service mounted during the height of the storm.

A downed tree on Route 10 near Wedgewood Drive in Winchester reduced traffic to a single alternating lane, while additional tree and wire incidents were reported in Richmond, Hinsdale and other Cheshire County communities.

In neighboring Peterborough, a large tree fell onto Route 123 near Route 101, causing a temporary road closure. Eversource crews and a tree company quickly responded to remove the debris and restore access. Peterborough Fire and Rescue also responded to several other storm-related incidents, including trees and wires down on Old Street Road and a report of a live wire on an occupied vehicle on Route 123 near Swamp Road.

Elsewhere in the region, emergency crews responded to downed trees and power lines in Harrisville, Walpole, Langdon, Antrim, Lempster, Unity and Claremont. In Antrim, West Main Street was temporarily closed because of live wires in the roadway.

The storm’s impact extended beyond New Hampshire into neighboring Vermont, where communities including Brattleboro, Westminster, Rockingham and Hartford also reported multiple downed trees and wires.

Power outages remained scattered across the region into Friday morning. In Peterborough alone, the Eversource outage map showed more than 130 customers were still without electricity early Friday.

State emergency management officials urged residents to use flashlights instead of candles during outages, treat non-functioning traffic signals as four-way stops, and avoid all downed power lines. Drivers were also asked to use caution around utility crews working to restore service.

Cleanup efforts will continue Friday as communities assessed damage and utility crews worked to restore power to remaining customers.