Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP What appear to be primary power lines are strewn in different directions as crews from Eversource and town and state agencies work to restore power and clear giant trees that fell and took down the lines during Tuesday's high winds. (Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP)

NASHUA – Restoration of power in the region moved right along come Tuesday afternoon, but electrical customers in some locations – including sections of Amherst – may have to wait until around noon on Thursday to get their power back.

The strong, gusty winds, frigid gusts at that, did indeed raise havoc across the region beginning Monday night and continuing well into Tuesday, toppling large tree limbs and in many cases the trees themselves onto power lines, buildings, vehicles or whatever happened to be in their path.

Injuries were rare, the only known reported case in the region being a man who was hospitalized after a tree crashed onto his home.

Nashua seemed to make it through relatively unscathed, but firefighters and police answered a number of calls reporting trees or large branches had come down on houses or pulled down power lines.

Likewise, first responders in Hudson and Merrimack were somewhat busy answering similar calls, which turned out in most cases to be relatively minor structural damage to homes.

Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Crews from Eversource, along with town and state workers and tree services, begin the lengthy power-restoration and road clearning project just west of the intersection of Main and Amherst streets in Amherst Village Tuesday afternoon. High winds overnight toppled large trees and branches onto primary wires. (Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP)

A home on Nevens Street in Hudson, however, sustained fairly significant damage when wind gusts snapped several large tree limbs that crashed onto the house.

In Londonderry, about a dozen schoolchildren, not to mention their bus driver, experienced a few anxious moments Tuesday morning when a set of live power lines fell onto the bus as it traveled down King John Drive on its way to Matthew Thornton Elementary School.

Firefighters directed everyone to stay on the bus as officials contacted Eversource requesting a priority response.

Once crews arrived and rendered the scene safe, a second bus was brought in to pick up the children and resume the bus route, officials said.

In Amherst, meanwhile, a network of what are believed to be primary power lines was taken down by at least one large tree that caught a gust of wind Tuesday morning.

Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Crews from Eversource, along with town and state workers and tree services and their vehicles and equipment, work to restore power and remove sections of giant trees that fell onto primary wires during Tuesday's high winds. (Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP)

Town and state public works crews, along with tree service personnel joined Eversource linemen on the scene, which was just west of the intersection of Amherst and Main streets.

Power was out in the general area, including in nearby Amherst Village, forcing officials to close Town Hall and the Town Library for at least Tuesday.

According to Eversource’s online outage map, it could take until noontime Thursday to restore power to the area.

By the numbers, Concord recorded the state’s highest gust, a 60 mph blast early Sunday. Gilford was second with a 54 mph gust, while Nashua and Rochester, each with a 53 mph gust, tied for third place.

Eversource spokesman William Hinkle told news outlets Tuesday afternoon that statewide outages peaked briefly at 75,000, but roughly 50,000 of those were restored within minutes.

Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Power lines lay across Amherst Street near the intersection of Main Street in Amherst Tuesday as Eversource and town and state crews work to clear the fallen trees and restore power. (Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP)

Hinkle credited technology known as “smart switch” for Eversource’s ability to restore power to such a large number of customers in such a short period of time.

The so-called “smart switches,” Hinkle said, allow operators in the company’s control center to isolate a power outage, identify the trouble spot, then reroute power from a different source while crews work to repair that trouble spot.

By late Tuesday, roughly 25,000 outages remained, according to the Eversource map. Most are expected to be restored by today.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP A section of one of the giant trees that were blown onto primary powerlines just west of Amherst Village sits on the side of the road as crews from Eversource, along with town and state workers and tree services, work to clear the area and restore power. (Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP)

Courtesy photo A residence on Nevens Street in Hudson suffered significant damage Tuesday, when gusts of wind sent parts of several trees onto and through the roof of the building. No injuries were reported. (Courtesy photo)

Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS Power lines that were taken down by a large pine tree on King John Drive Tuesday morning ended up draped across this school bus, which had about a dozen children aboard at the time. No injuries were reported, and the children were picked up by another bus and brought to school. (Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS)

Courtesy photo A tall tree that appears to have seen better days caught a gust of wind and toppled onto other trees and a utility pole on Tuesday, forcing Hudson police to close this section of Wason Road until the tree was removed. (Courtesy photo)