The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for most of Western NY tonight and tomorrow from 1 AM to 4 PM. According to their forecasts, we can expect 25-35 MPH winds and gusts exceeding 50 MPH. These winds have the possibility of causing damage; however, the NWS has not made any special statement to this effect beyond their standard explanation. This applies to Genesee, Chautauqua, Erie, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming Counties. For the full NWS release click on "Read More" below.

UPDATE, 10:40AM: Winds are expected to change to coming mainly from the West in the next few hours. Sustained winds are expected to drop by about 5 MPH but gusts are not expected to change. Also addded a new NWS Special Weather Statement in full below. The SWS contains current information regarding recorded wind gusts in the Buffalo area, as well as Lake Erie levels. 14.4 foot waves have been recorded at a buoy near Port Colborne, ON, Canada (about 15 Mi. west of the border along the north shore of Lake Erie).

Town of Batavia FD is on scene at College Village building G (Spruce Hall) for a fire alarm. Response appears to be Rescue, Heavy Rescue, and at least one Chief. The cause of the alarm is not known to me at this time. More info when available.

Update (9:50 PM): This may end up being a non-story as they've already left. Response was Rescue 20, Rescue 24 and appeared to also include two chiefs. The dual-Rescue response has been fairly unusual in the past and that combined with everything arriving in a group led me to believe there might be something confirmed active, but appears to have simply been for the lighting abilities of those rigs. I don't have access to a scanner, so until I hear details from someone all I know is that the FD has been called.

The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement and a Flood Warning covering Genesee County. There is a strong thunderstorm expected to pass just south of Buffalo at 9:45 which has the potential to become severe. The flood warning is in effect until 1:30AM, and has been issued due to imminent or observed flooding of small creek and streams, underpasses and other low-lying areas. The Kensington Expressway in Buffalo has been partially closed due to flooding. Releases after the jump.

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Batavia. The warning is active until 2PM currently, and the storm is forecasted to arrive in Batavia at 1:50PM. A watch remains in effect until 3PM according to the NWS website.

Alert text after the jump...

Update: Not exactly a "severe" storm, it put on a mild show for about 5 minutes and then moved on.

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for most of Western NY today from 10AM to Midnight. According to their forecasts we can expect 20-30 MPH winds and gusts exceeding 45 MPH, along with showers and thunderstorms. These winds have the possibility of causing damage, especially due to it being early Fall, with most leaves still on trees. This applies to Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Wayne and Wyoming Counties . For the full NWS release click on "Read More" below.

Friday moning (8/28/09) at approximately 2:00 AM, fire alarms were activated in Beech and Cedar Halls (Buildings B and C) at College Village. Initial response was two Town of Batavia Fire Department chiefs and Engine 21, with one Genesee County Sherriff's Office patrol car and two New York State Police patrol vehicles arriving shortly afterward. During the investigation Beech Hall's alarm activated a second time. At approximately 2:25 AM residents were allowed back into their rooms. Information regarding cause, etc. is currently unavailable due to lack of an appropriate time to ask officials who were on-scene.

More photos as well as personal comments "after the jump..."