Thousands were without power after howling, gusty winds knocked out electricity Friday afternoon.

Winds with gusts up to 50 mph wreaked havoc throughout the region, where 26,000 customers were without power as of 2:30 p.m., according to Jane George, regional affairs director for PPL Electric Utilities.

By 3:30 p.m. the number had jumped to nearly 30,000. It was cut in half by 7 p.m.

George said crews were “actively working to restore power,” but added that people should “be prepared for the possibility that they may be without power.”

“We are working to restore them as quickly as possible,” George said. “Our crews are working around the clock.”

In Walnutport, businesses, such as AutoZone in the Walnutport Shopping Center, were without power.

Multiple power outages were also reported throughout Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe and Schuylkill counties.

Just after 3:30 p.m. Mahoning Township police blocked off one of the two westbound lanes of Route 443 after a tractor-trailer took down a pole supporting the temporary traffic lights in front of the Carbon Plaza Mall.

Cars were able to travel through but higher pickups and trucks were diverted into the entrance to Lowe’s, where they turned around and made their way out and westbound again onto Route 443. The lights were raised by construction workers around 5:30 p.m.

Heavy winds felled a tree along the Lentz Trail in Jim Thorpe near the entrance to Mauch Chunk Lake Park, causing it to fall on power lines.

In Franklin Township, a tree blocked Long Run Road in the morning and caused a utility pole fire.

Trees fell on lines on Burger Hollow Road and Route 534 in Polk Township on Friday afternoon.

Just after 5:30 p.m. wires fell, sparking a brush fire on Kennel Road in Chestnuthill Township.

“It’s safe to say that we are prepared for strong and damaging winds that are expected to cause power outages across the entire PPL Electric service territory,” George said. “Our crews are ready to work around the clock responding to outages as they occur.”

George said they brought in additional line workers from other areas to assist with restoration efforts.

“These power outages are expected throughout the territory,” she said. “We’re ready, and are working around the clock to respond as outages occur.”

George reminded people to keep cellphones charged and to prepare an emergency kit with food, water, medication, and any pet supplies.

George said additional winds are expected by the end of the weekend into the early part of next week.

“We’re also tracking more heavy winds that may be in store for us on Sunday into Monday,” she said. “We’ll be ready to respond to that storm as well.

For information on storm safety, outage restoration priorities and more, visit pplelectric.com/outage.

Customers who do experience a power outage can report it online at pplelectric.com/outages, by texting “Outage” to TXTPPL (898775) or by phone at 1-800-342-5775 and using the interactive voice response system.