weather

The National Weather Service is warning that strong winds are blowing toward Genesee County and should hit around 3 p.m.

Gusts of 58 mph and greater are possible.

The warning is in effect until midnight.

Liz, 13, was downtown with her mother this afternoon in her fine winter hat she bought at JCPenney.

It was a bit like winter in Batavia today, with a couple of inches of snow falling so far.

More snow is on the way, with less than an inch expected overnight, but then tomorrow, three to five inches is expected, some of it in "squalls," with winds up to 20 or 30 mph.

Today's weather seems to have contributed to more than a half dozen, or more, property damage and minor injury accidents around the county.

Somewhat silhouetted by the sun, these phragmite plumes stand out nicely against the blue winter sky, creating a scene hardly resembling early February. 

To my memory, I don't recall seeing as much waterfowl activity in our area as evidenced this winter. With no snow cover, waterfowl have been able to glean the grain fields, and local waters have iced over only occassionally but never for very long.

This scene is more reminiscent of April -- and trout season.

This snowfall was picturesque and like the others it didn't last long.

Here dining on sumac, wintering songbirds haven't had trouble finding food this season. While sumac is a normal part of their winter diet....... 

it seems they don't care much for sumac sno-cones.

By Sunday morning these waterfowl could find themselves evicted. Predicted low temps for Friday and Saturday show single digits and this mantle of ice could envelop the entire marsh.

It's been a nice run but we're certainly not out of the woods yet. Over the course of the next few weeks will we see more blue sky with just an occasional bite from Old Man Winter......

or will we one morning wake up to a setting such as this?

Submitted by Debbie Reed.

As snow fell on Batavia Sunday afternoon, Evan went for a walk on East Main Street sporting a unique mohawk-style winter hat. Evan said it was a gift from his mother.

While the snowfall today was interesting, not much stuck and roadways remained pretty clear.

That may change tonight.

The National Weather Service is predicting two to four inches of snow overnight and drivers are warned that visibility may be reduced to a quarter of a mile. During the heaviest periods of snowfall, the rate could be as much as an inch an hour.

Up to four inches of snow is expected to hit the area over the next several hours, according to the National Weather Service.

Winds may reach 40 mph and blowing snow could reduce visibility to a quarter of a mile, making travel more difficult.

A winter weather advisory is effect until 7 p.m.

A tree is reportedly down and blocking Main Street in Alexander.

Also, a large limb is down and blocking on Francis Road, Bethany.

Wires reportedly down and sparking on Myrtle Street, Le Roy. A Le Roy chief says "several minor power outages in the area the past several minutes."

UPDATE 6:53 p.m.: Tree down on Bowen Road in the area of Broadway, Darien.

UPDATE 6:54 p.m.: Tree down on Clinton Street Road.

UPDATE 6:55 p.m.: Francis Road cleared of the limb.

UPDATE 7:01 p.m.: Tree and wires down, with the tree on fire, reported in the area of 5866 N. Byron Road, Byron. Byron and South Byron fire units responding.

UPDATE 7:02 p.m.: Utility pole with live wires reported down in the Yellow Goose parking lot, 110 W. Main St., Le Roy. Le Roy fire responding.

UPDATE 7:05 p.m.: The warning has been extended to 7:30 p.m. The storm is moving east at 85 mph with winds of 60 mph.

UPDATE 7:08 p.m.: Debris reported in the roadway of West Main Street near Ellicott Avenue, Batavia.

UPDATE 7:18 p.m.: The severe thunderstorm warning for eastern Genesee County has been cancelled.

UPDATE 7:20 p.m.: Police requested to check the area of Richmond Avenue and Union Street for a possible wire arcing.

UPDATE 7:23 p.m.: Report of a wire down at the side of the road and sparking on Route 77 near Lewiston Road. Alabama fire dispatched. Also, report of a wire down on Chandler near Bank Street, Batavia.

UPDATE 7:26 p.m.: Tree down, blocking, on Warboys Road near Byron Holley Road.

UPDATE 7:27 p.m.: A tractor-trailer has blown over in the area 8940 Alleghany Road, Pembroke.

UPDATE 7:29 p.m.:  A deputy on scene: "The trailer just blew back on its wheels."

UPDATE 7:30 p.m.: In the area of 11 Trumbull Parkway, Batavia, report of a "Christmas tree blowing at large in the roadway."

UPDATE 7:33 p.m.: Traffic lights out at Main and Center, and Main and Jackson, according to Batavia PD. Also, National Grid reports two power outages in the county right now: one in the area of Bushville (just east of Wortendyke Road) affecting 89 customers, and one near the Wyoming County line in Darien affecting 16 customers.

UPDATE 7:36 p.m.: Lights out in Le Roy at Routes 5 and 19, and a Le Roy PD officer reports being on Munson "watching construction material blow down the road." One of Le Roy's chiefs is in route from Yellow Goose to Summit Street where a tree is down with wires arcing.

UPDATE 7:41 p.m.: At 9679 Francis Road -- tree limbs down, blocking.

UPDATE 7:44 p.m.: Le Roy assignment on Summit back in service. Tree is leaning against the line providing service to the house, but it's not a fire department issue at this point. 

UPDATE 7:51 p.m.: Large tree down blocking on North Bergen Road. Tree partially blocking on Byron Holley Road, north of North Byron.

UPDATE 7:56 p.m.: Some sort of electrical problem with a utility pole in the parking lot of Pandora's Boxx, on Ellicott Street Road. Town of Batavia Fire Department on scene. National Grid requested to the scene. In another location, barn roof reportedly blew off and struck a tractor-trailer (I missed the location) (from reader comments: "Baskin Livestock, Creek Road").

UPDATE 7:59 p.m.: Nine customers without power in the area of Richmond and Union, Batavia. 

UPDATE 8 p.m.: Large tree and wires down in the area of 2311 Bennett Road, Darien. Darien fire dispatched.

UPDATE 8:02 p.m.: Le Roy fire back in service from Yellow Goose incident.

UPDATE 8:09 p.m.: Tree down blocking northbound lane of Route 77, north of Lockport Road. A car has struck a trash can on Ellicott Street Road in the area of Pandora's Boxx and is now in the gas station parking lot, disabled. No injuries. Tree limbs are down in the area of 21 Pleasant St., Batavia, blocking.

UPDATE 8:12 p.m.: Didn't catch the road, but it's between Fargo and Alleghany roads -- tree down, blocking.

UPDATE 8:17 p.m.: Lines down, but not arcing, in the area of 112 Summit St., Batavia. City fire dispatched.

UPDATE 8:22 p.m.: City of Batavia fire dispatched for an automatic alarm of fire with the odor of smoke in the building, 38 Woodrow Road, the Genesee ARC building.

UPDATE 8:25 p.m.: Report of a tree down at West Main and River streets, Batavia. 

UPDATE 8:30 p.m.: Tree down blocking Route 20, Bethany. City fire on scene at 38 Woodrow, no smoke detected, investigating.

UPDATE 8:34 p.m.: Report of wires down and burning on Linden Road and March Road, Bethany. Report of tree down on North Road, Le Roy.

UPDATE 8:36 p.m.: Limbs down, Tripp Road and Townline Road, Elba. At Woodrow, city fire reports no smoke or fire.

UPDATE 8:46 p.m.: Byron and South Byron back in service. Road remains barricaded.

UPDATE 8:53 p.m.: Tree down, blocking eastbound Route 20, just west of Brookville Road. Alexander fire dispatched for traffic control.

UPDATE 8:54 p.m.: An Alexander chief is attempting to move a dead tree blocking Putnam and Creek roads.

UPDATE 9:17 p.m.: Large tree down, 19 Kibbe Ave., City of Batavia.

UPDATE 9:17 p.m.: Alexander fire back in service after clearing tree from Route 20.

UPDATE 9:21 p.m.: A state DOT dispatcher passed along to county dispatcher that a tree is down completely blocking Route 20 about a mile west of Route 98, and a wire is down. The Alexandar chief is on scene and says the DOT crew is close to having the tree cleaned up, but there may be a wire down. The chief is requesting all available manpower to the Alexander Fire Hall.

UPDATE 9:23 p.m.: Route 20 is being shut down in both directions, at Route 98 on the east side and at Route 238, Darien. Darien fire dispatched to close Route 20 on the west side.

UPDATE 9:40 p.m.: Line down and arcing in the area of 11420 Peoria Road, Pavilion. Pavilion fire dispatched.

UPDATE 9:46 p.m.: Tree down blocking Bank Street, Batavia, near Dwyer Stadium.

UPDATE 9:51 p.m.: National Grid on scene, Peoria Road (actually, National Grid on scene of something in Bethany).

UPDATE 10:09 p.m.: There are now 12 spots of power outages in Genesee County affecting about 900 customers. The largest is in the North Bergen area, bordered by Townline Road on the south, Honest Hill in Orleans County on the north, Transit/Townline Road on the west and not quite to Route 19 on the east. In the southeast area of Alexander, 40 customers are without power. Just west of Creek Road, Batavia, 13 customers are without power, and in Alexander, just north of Sprauge Road, about a dozen customers are also without power. There's a tree down and blocking Starr Road, Pavilion.

UPDATE 10:26 p.m.: Bethany fire released from Marsh Road incident. In the area of Simmonds and Richley roads, a car has hit a pole, unknown injuries, but wires are down.

UPDATE 10:29 p.m.: Power is out on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation, affecting 194 customers. Also, about 60 customers in Alabama are without power. The previously reported outages are still without power.

UPDATE 10:31 p.m.: A metal sign is blowing in the roadway on West Main Street, Batavia.

UPDATE 10:33 p.m.: The driver from the Simmonds and Richley accident reportedly tried to flee the scene. He reportedly ran into a barn and then was located by a firefighter about 200 yards from the accident, lying in a ditch.

UPDATE 10:37 p.m.: A tree is partially blocking Colby Road.

UPDATE 10:39 p.m.: Wire are down on the roof of a house and arcing, 22 Cary Ave., Oakfield.

UPDATE 10:52 p.m.: The wire down at 22 Cary Ave. is not arcing.

UPDATE 10:55 p.m.: Darien's ambulance is transporting the driver to UMMC.

UPDATE 11:35 p.m.: Wires down, Otis and South Jackson, Batavia.

UPDATE 11:49 p.m.: Otis was cable wires down. City Fire back in service. Also, Alabama is on scene of smoke in the residence at on Martin Road.  Smoke is not going up the chimney as it should.  A chief on scene said they may need to clean the chimney for the residents.

UPDATE 12: 24 a.m.: Nearly the entire Town of Bethany is without power, some 400 customers. Tonawanda has power restored. There are about 16 power outage spots in the county. The North Bergen outage is ongoing.

This is the last update on this post for the night. Goodnight.

A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect immediately, lasting until 6:15 p.m.

The National Weather Service warns that high winds will proceed any lightning or rain, but people should take cover before hearing any thunder.

Wind damage is likely, according to the weather service.

Winds of 70 mph are predicted. The storm is moving at 70 mph.

UPDATE 6:16 p.m.: Warning extended to 6:45 p.m. From the latest update:

WIND DAMAGE WITH THESE STORMS WILL OCCUR WELL AHEAD OF ANY RAIN OR LIGHTNING. DO NOT WAIT FOR THE SOUND OF THUNDER BEFORE TAKING COVER. SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

There's a hazardous weather outlook for portions of Western New York. The National Weather Service office in Buffalo has issued a high wind warning beginning at 5 p.m. today. Gusts of up to 60 mph are expected through 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Also, areas of blowing snow are predicted between midnight and 2 a.m.

Here's five photos from my drive around the county Friday afternoon. It turns out four of them were taken along Simmonds Road in the Town of Darien. The fifth, bottom, on Ellinwood Road.

A big pile of snowdrift is reportedly blocking the roadway and creating a hazard at Transit and Batavia--Elba Town Line roads. A Sheriff's deputy has been dispatched.

Information from the National Weather Service:

Tonight there will be more snow showers and and areas of blowing snow until 11 p.m., followed by just more snow until midnight. Then there will be a chance of snow throughout the early morning hours, with a low of 14 degrees. A total of one to two inches of snow is possible.

A two-car, minor injury accident is reported at Route 5 and Roanoke Road in Stafford. Stafford fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 4:04 p.m.: All patients will be sign-offs. Medics are to continue in non-emergency mode.

A tractor-trailer is jackknifed on Route 63 in the Hamlet of East Bethany. The location is between East Bethany and Le Roy roads. It is completely blocking the roadway and yet some vehicles are attempting to go around it. State police are called to the scene.

A big traffic jam is reported at Reuben and Bloomingdale roads in Alabama.

A disabled tractor-trailer is blocking the roadway on Meadville Road in Alabama. The driver is not inside. Alabama fire is responding.

A tractor-trailer is reported to have jackknifed, landing in a ditch, and is now leaking diesel fuel on Route 237, south of Route 33. Stafford Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 1:04 p.m.: Dispatch reports that 100 gallons of diesel fuel have already spilt due to the rupture of the gas tank. The conditions on that stretch of roadway are very icy and responders are told to use caution.

UPDATE 1:22 p.m.: Stafford is on scene along with a heavy duty wrecker.

UPDATE 2:13 p.m.: The truck was carrying 23 head of young dairy cattle. The roadway is solid ice and winds are hitting at least 30 mph across the open fields. Below, WHAM13's Sean Carroll battles the conditions while giving an update from the scene. He's being filmed by cameraman Tom Maloney. Fire crews are just now clearing the scene.

Welcome to Friday the 13th. The weather remains frightful, travel hazardous and a winter weather advisory remains in place until 7 p.m.

There is a wind advisory in effect until 4 p.m.

The pictures in this post were taken as I returned to Batavia from the egg tanker accident.

Above, off Route 20, Alexander

Browns Mill Road, Alexander

Creek Road, Batavia

Creek Road, Batavia

A man is reportedly stuck on a ramp in the snow in his electric wheelchair on North Street in Batavia near Narramore Drive. City fire is responding and told to proceed in non-emergency mode.

High winds and blowing snow have been keeping county salt crews busy so far Friday morning.

There are currently reports of an accident on Route 63 and a report of car off the road in East Pembroke.

A UPS truck can't get up a hill in Pavilion.

Currently, National Grid reports no power outages.

The forecast for Genesee County through noon is for more of the same.

The National Weather Service says "blizzard conditions" exist now, though the morning portion of the storm is expected to bring only about one to three inches of snow.

WBTA reports tha Pavilion Central School is closed today and Alexandar Central has a two-hour delay.

UPDATE 7:27 a.m.: Car off the road on the I-490. An electrical wire is reportedly on fire outside the residence at 10 Maple St., Batavia. The caller reports "hearing electrical problems" in the basement. City fire responding.

UPDATE 7:31 a.m.: Engine 12 on scene at 10 Maple, nothing showing. Mercy EMS dispatched to Route 63 and Ellicott for the accident at that location for a patient evaluation. At 10 Maple, firefighter reports "It's a little smoky" in the basement.

UPDATE 7:39 a.m.: National Grid requested to 10 Maple. Power is out. Water has gotten on the breaker box. The cause of the smoke in the basement is out.  Also, in Le Roy, a truck can't get up a hill in the area of Gilbert Street. Law enforcement responding.

UPDATE 7:45 a.m.: National Grid requested to the scene at 10 Maple ASAP. "We have a signficant electrical situation here," a firefighter reports. There is arcing in the basement.

UPDATE 7:48 a.m.; National Grid has a 15 minute ETA for 10 Maple.

UPDATE 7:49 a.m.: Car off the road on Perry Road, Pavilion.

UPDATE 8:08 a.m.: City code enforcement requested to 10 Maple.

UPDATE 8:13 a.m.: A vehicle has struck a mailbox on Route 63 near Bethany Center Road.

UPDATE 8:30 a.m.: A tractor-trailer has rolled over on Route 20 at Sandpit Road, Alexander. No word on injuries.

UPDATE 8:41 a.m.: Regarding the truck rollover -- no injuries.

UPDATE 8:43 a.m.: Car off the road on Route 77 just north of the Thruway.

UPDATE 8:50 a.m.: Heavy wrecker requested to the truck rollover. The tanker was transporting liquid egg, completely biodegradable, and the liquid egg is draining out of the tank, so it will be empty by the time the wrecker arrives. The driver is now out of the truck.

UPDATE 8:55 a.m.: Red Cross requested to 10 Maple to assist a displaced family.