MONCTON, N.B. -- New Brunswick's Crown utility says about 5,000 customers are still without power after wild winds whipped through the region on Thursday.

New Brunswick Power says crews are making steady progress restoring electricity for the remaining customers without power, primarily in the Sussex, Rothesay and Moncton areas.

The utility says it expects the restoration effort to continue until Sunday evening.

At the height of the wind storm, NB Power reported 39,000 customers had lost electricity.

Utility crews from Quebec and Nova Scotia have been called in to help with the restoration effort.