While the small yet intense thunderstorm that passed over the region hit a tower in Rockland last night and damaged Internet equipment for some service providers, it is today's strong westerly winds that are causing power outages in Knox and Waldo counties.

"We have 3,200 reported power outages across the state," said Gail Rice, spokeswoman for Central Maine Power, at 11 a.m. "In Knox and Waldo counties, they number around 400, and were just starting to come in at 9:30 a.m. We expect the numbers to go up."

A cold front came through yesterday, bringing heavy rain last night throughout the region. Behind it, colder temperatures, clear skies and wind moved in.

At the tail end last night's front, a small electric storm presented itself, according to meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Gray. They pulled up radar from Wednesday night, and tracked the storm moving from the southwest to the north-northeast, right over Rockland and up the shoreline toward Bangor.

"We have a lightning detection network and according to it, the storm wasn't real impressive," said Meteorologist Mike Kistner, reviewing the radar. "But as the front came through, it provided enough lift and some convection. It was one little storm, but it did have a couple of lightning strikes."

That lightning was strong enough for at least one driver heading from Rockport to Union, who reported that he was so blinded by the lightning flash that he pulled off the road on Route 17 to wait the storm out.

Kistner said the storm was embedded in a wide area of precipitation. As opposed to severe summer thunderstorms with their negative electrical charges, this storm had a positive charge.

"That's more the kind of storms you will see at this time of year," he said.

Power was out in downtown Camden this morning, as well as in Lincolnville. Currently, according to the CMP website, there are 58 customers without power in Camden; 228 in Lincolnville; two on Isleboro; and 55 in Palermo. In Lincoln County, there are 3,582 without power, the majority in Bristol and South Bristol.

"We have been watching the wind and it is coming right on schedule," said Rice.

The weather, according to the National Weather Service, calls for gusty west winds, with sun. There is a small craft advisory.

"Another cold front will cross the region Friday morning, bringing very cold temperatures overnight into Saturday," according to the NWS. "A high builds in for the start of the weekend before another low moves up the Saint Lawrence Valley on Sunday night with widespread rain showers and moderate temperatures expected through the start of next week."

Reach Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbabypilot.com; 706-6657.