UPDATE: National Grid: More Than 3,000 Without Power In Woonsocket

Update - 7:32 p.m.: National Grid reports repair crews will have to take a renewed stab at restoring power in Woonsocket and other areas tomorrow morning after the worst of the storm has passed. 

Charlotte McCormack, spokesperson for National Grid, said that crews were taken in hours ago after winds reached speeds greater than 30 mph. Crews have been focused on any work that could be done without putting staff up in the utility's bucket trucks, "specifically for safety reasons," McCormack said. 

She said according to reports, the damage was caused by downed wires and branches. In the morning, once winds have subsided, crews will go back out and work to restore power once the utility has assessed the situation. 

Update - 4:22 p.m. National Grid's power outage map shows about 3,483 without power in the area of the city between Manville Road and Park Avenue who lost power at 1:30 p.m. are waiting for repairs. 

According to the map, a crew has been assigned and the problem is being assessed (earlier in the day, when Woonsocket was among the only communities experiencing outages, the estimate was 3 p.m.) 

About 52 people in the area of Manville Road and Bernon Street, in the same area, were without power at 11 a.m. 

City residents without power were quickly in plenty of company as Sandy intensified. National Grid is reporting power outages across the state as winds from Hurricane Sandy pick up this afternoon. As of 4:22 p.m., about 63,000 Rhode Island customers are without power.

Weather officials are projecting the heaviest winds to hit Rhode Island this afternoon and into the night with gusts up to 75 mph.

To report outages and wires down call: 1-800-465-1212.

Woonsocket Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.