UPDATE: Power Outages Jump to 7,400 in NK

Update, 7:55 p.m. –  Power outages in North Kingstown have jumped to 7,410 – nearly 57 percent of residents. Across the state, more than 108,000 National Grid customers are without power.

Update - 7:32 p.m.: National Grid reports repair crews will have to take a renewed stab at restoring power in North Kingstown 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, Monday 4 p.m. –  As of 4 p.m. Monday, there are now 2,435 NK customers without power. Across the state, nearly 55,000 customers are experiencing power outages.

Monday, 3:45 p.m.  National Grid is reporting power outages across the state as winds from Hurricane Sandy pick up Monday afternoon. As of 3:45 p.m., almost 50,000 Rhode Island customers are without power.

In North Kingstown, 2,144 customers are without power. According to the National Grid's Power Outage Map, approximately 1,300 residents in the Wickford and Saunderstown area along Boston Neck Road are without power. Another 285 in the North Quidnessett area are also experiencing power outages.

South Kingstown leads the pack with 7,370 customers without power (more than half of its population) followed by Narragansett with 5,644 outages (almost 54 percent of the town's customers). Newport is close behind with 5,605.

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

To report an outage or downed power lines, contact National Grid at 800-465-1212.

Follow Hurricane Sandy and news in North Kingstown with our 'Cane Blog.