We're hearing reports again this morning of frosted, slick roads, especially, possibly, in the east part of the county.

There was some overnight precipitation with freezing temperatures (some might call it snow, but what we saw wasn't exactly light and fluffy).

The current temperature in Batavia is 29 degrees and expected to remain at or near freezing until 9 or 10 a.m. The temperature should climb into the 40s by early afternoon, with plenty of sun.

Within the past few minutes, two minor accidents in the Le Roy and Bergen area have been reported. In both cases, it sounds like cars slid off the roads.

A fire chief said, "We have snow covered roads. It's slippery. You can't see the double yellow line. You (dispatch) might want to call DOT."

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It's no fun to trick or treat in the rain, but ghouls, goblins as well as princesses and pirates shouldn't worry too much.

The forecast for this evening ranges from 0 percent to 10 percent chance of precipitation.

But it is going to be a little cold. The temperature is expected to drop into the high 40s.

The good news is, the wind will have died down by then.

Wind, did you say? Yes, there's a wind advisory in place from 4 to 6 p.m., with gusts of up to 40 mph expected.

Happy Halloween. Be safe.

New York is appealing last month's decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to deny disaster assistance to five counties, including Genesee.

The state's formal appeal asks President Obama to overturn FEMA's denial and provide aid to Genesee, Columbia, Delaware, Rensselaer and Sullivan counties for damages suffered from storms that occurred from July 25 through Aug.16.
 
Damage, debris and response costs in the five counties exceed $7 million, according to a press release from Tim Yaeger, coordinator of Genesee County Emergency Services.

“The...counties are reeling from this summer’s flooding and storms, which have caused severe damage and hardship,” Gov. Paterson said. “The repetitive nature of these events has strained local governments’ ability to implement the recovery process and placed a severe fiscal burden upon the state and its local communities.” 

FEMA maintains that Genesee and the four other counties sustained infrastructure damage that was "not of the severity and magnitude" to warrant a separate disaster declaration (from a storm system that hit Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chenago, Cortland and Erie counties).

But the state argues that New York had the wettest summer in 138 years and the third wettest in recorded history. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration reported rainfall greater than 200 percent above normal for July.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture calculated soil-moisture content in excess of 500 percent above normal range in the five counties named in the appeal. This super-saturation of the soil resulted in "immediate significant rises in creeks and streams for even minor rainfall amounts."

“A failure to provide this desperately needed support to some of our most impoverished counties will leave them vulnerable to increased damage from even moderate future flooding events," Patterson said.

Corfu's damage assessment was found to be $246 per capita for Genesee County. That's well in excess of the per-capita threshold for aid established by federal law and cited in FEMA’s own preliminary damage assessment.

Damage and debris/response costs for all 10 counties affected by the summer storms is estimated at more than $60 million.

We woke up to a little snow this morning.  Expect temperatures below 40 degrees until early afternoon, and then read starting around 3 p.m.  We could have more snow tomorrow night.

Blame Canada.  It's going to be cold tonight -- low 30s -- with a "hard frost" according to the National Weather Service.

UNSEASONABLY COLD CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD ACROSS NEW YORK STATE TONIGHT. PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES... LIGHT WINDS... AND PLENTY OF COLD DRY AIR ASSOCIATED WITH THE HIGH WILL BRING A HARD FREEZE TO MOST OF WESTERN AND UPSTATE NEW YORK. LOW TEMPERATURES NEAR LAKE ERIE AND ONTARIO WILL NOT GET QUITE AS COLD... BUT STILL WILL DROP TO NEAR FREEZING... RESULTING IN THE FIRST FROST OF THE SEASON FOR MANY.

Farmers are advised to harvest tender crops and gardeners should bring potted plants in doors.

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).

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.

In response to the current weather, the National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a flood warning encompassing all of western New York.

Read the full warning 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.

Heavy winds and light hail are moving into Genesee County from the west, according to a report on the scanner.

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch in effect until 3 p.m.

UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watch is cancelled.

Also, I was in a meeting and couldn't get all the details, but:

• Byron and South Byron fire departments were dispatched to a utility pole that broke in half.
• There was a kitchen fire at 9131 E. Main St., Lot #23, Town of Batavia.

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.

Strong winds and cloud-to-ground lightening is expected to pound Genesee County from now until 11 p.m.

The National Weather Services advises people to move inside to avoid being struck by lightning.

Winds up to 60 m.p.h. are expected.

There is a severe thunderstorm watch taking effect at 7:23 p.m. for Western New York, and it will be in effect until 2 a.m.

There's a light haze hanging over Batavia. It reminds me of smog, which I've seen plenty of in San Diego, Los Angeles and Bakersfield -- a place with the distinction of having the worst air quality in the nation.

There is an air quality alert here in effect until 10 p.m. today, issued by the New State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The air-quality index is at 125.

According to Wikipedia, when the API is between 100 and 200: "People with existing heart or respiratory illnesses may notice mild aggravation of their health conditions. Generally healthy individuals may also notice some discomfort."

The Department of Health recommends limiting strenuous outdoor activity. People, especially the very young or those with asthma or heart disease, should consult with a physician immediately if any adverse symptoms arise.

Heavy rain showers and thunderstorms could develop over Genesee County this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

The rain, after the big storm of last night, could lead to flash floods in low-lying areas as well as creeks and streams.

The flash flood watch is in effect until late tonight.

Should the danger of flash flood be detected, people should seek higher ground.

Last night. Allison Watson said in the midst of a wind, rain and lightning storm she heard a boom and then the front of her house filled with brown smoke.  When she walked to the side of her house, she wasn't surprised at what she found.

Part of a giant tree in her neighbor's yard had fallen into her home at 14 Warren St.

"I called it," Watson said. "I knew it was going to fall on my house. It was only a matter of time."

Watson said she believes the tree was diseased.

Watson, a 15-year-resident of Warren Street, said it's the second time a branch fell on her property. The first time was a couple of years ago during an ice storm and the branch destroyed her garage.

This time, her car was damaged, but she doesn't know how extensively.

Work crews were on their way this morning to remove the debris.

There were no injuries, Watson said, not even to her pet bird, whose feathers were a little ruffled when its cage was damaged, but is otherwise OK.