Pre-Christmas storm causes damage across Bay State

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As families traveled for a holiday weekend, a large winter storm blasted Massachusetts Friday, causing widespread amounts of damage.

A coastal flood warning is in effect until 2:00 p.m. Strong gusts of wind, some as high as 50 to 65 miles per hour, will persist throughout the day.

Shortly after 11:00 a.m., the Duxbury Fire Department announced that firefighters had to don survival suits to rescue a driver in a flooded car on Gurnet Road.

Boston 25 photojournalist James Cullity captured a large tree fallen near Whitman Town Hall before noon.

At 10:30 a.m. Cohasset police advised residents to stay away from two roads that the storm transformed into hazard areas.

Harwich police shared photos of the flooding coastline.

Earlier in the morning, Norton Police shared that the high winds toppled the gazebo on the common.

The Natick Fire Department advised travelers to be careful on the roads as crew worked to combat downed power lines that sparked and roared in the middle of the street.

Wellesley police announced at 7:30 am that Washington Street would remain closed until crews could clear a downed tree.

Wrentham Police advised the public to stay home as wires and trees came down.

One of the first reported bits of damage was an unoccupied truck in Salisbury that was crushed by a falling shipping container at a Salisbury private business.

In addition to the damages, MEMA has stated over 55,000 Bay Staters are without power.

Temperatures are expected to drop rapidly over the evening and into Saturday.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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