weather

Residents throughout Batavia got busy this morning clearing paths and driveways following heavy snowfall in the early morning hours.

Press release:

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is issuing a travel advisory for areas south of Route 5 in Genesee County, effective until further notice. 

Sheriff Sheron encourages residents, “For your safety and the safety of first responders and highway snow removal personnel, please stay off the roads until conditions improve.”

Motorists are encouraged to avoid all unnecessary travel due to heavy snowfall, blowing and drifting snow that is causing poor visibility and poor road conditions.  These conditions will undoubtedly create treacherous travel for all motorists. 

During a travel advisory roads are not closed, however, no unnecessary travel is advised. A trip that could wait should not be made until the advisory is lifted.  The Genesee County Sheriff's Office does not determine the necessity for any individual to report to work.

Email weather-related photos to howard@thebatavian.com or text 585-260-6970

First responders have been dealing with multiple traffic mishaps this morning.

At one point this morning, tractor-trailers were blocking both directions on Route 19 at Parmalee Road in Le Roy. Law enforcement is still on scene at that location and looking to reroute traffic.

A tractor-trailer vs. car accident was reported earlier at Route 237 and Richmond Road.

A vehicle rollover accident was reported at Route 63 and Judge Road.

UPDATE 7:04 a.m.: A vehicle in the ditch on Route 238.  Also, vehicles are finding it difficult to get up hill on Richmond Road. Route 19 north is passable now but law enforcement wants to hold off opening up the road until plows hit it one more time.

UPDATE 7:08 a.m.: Law enforcement is checking on a vehicle at Colby and Sumner, Darien, with its four-ways on.

UPDATE 7:12 a.m.: As soon as there's more salt on the road, Route 19 at Parmalee can be reopened in both directions.

UPDATE 8:28 a.m.: A vehicle is off the road on Ford Road, Elba.

UPDATE 8:34 a.m.: A road patrol reports that Route 63 out of Pavilion, all traffic is stopped. Dispatch said they've received no calls on it.

UPDATE 8:34 a.m.: A road patrol requests traffic be blocked at Route 20 and Route 63, south. There are tractor-trailers blocking traffic and several of them "just parked."

UPDATE 8:52 a.m.: A patrol is in place to stop traffic southbound on Route 63. Other patrol reports that roadway is just about cleared. It might be only another five minutes.

UPDATE 8:58 a.m.: A patrol is dispatched to Route 20 and Route 98, Alexander, to direct seim-truck traffic northbound.

UPDATE 10:56 a.m.: Rollover accident reported on Route 98 at Goodman Road, Alexander. The operator reports no injuries.  A white pickup has struck a mailbox in Pavilion. DOT wants Route 20 shutdown between Route 98 and Route 238. 

UPDATE 10:57 a.m.: Tractor Trailers are backed up on Route 20.

UPDATE 11 a.m.: A travel advisory is being issued for Genesee County from Route 20 to the south.

UPDATE 11:11 a.m.: On Route 20, Alexander, there is a UPS truck on its side, a Budget truck in a ditch on the wrong side of the road, and a passenger vehicle off the road (which has its own tow on the way).

UPDATE 11:12 a.m.: In Le Roy, there are vehicles off the road on Vallance Road and on Perry Road.

UPDATE 11:42 a.m.: There may be a jack-knifed semi on Route 238, Alexander. 

UPDATE 11:46 a.m.: Route 238 is open both directions between Route 20 and the village of Attica.

UPDATE Noon: An Amazon van is struck on Stroh Road, Alexander.

Photos of Route 19 from Thursday morning via Le Roy PD:

There is a lake effect snow warning in effect from 10 p.m. Wednesday to 1 p.m. on Friday.

The storm could produce accumulations of eight to 20 inches of heavy, wet snow in some areas. Wind gusts of up to 40 mph are anticipated, which will create considerable blowing and drifting snow. 

The warning is effect for Northern Erie County and Genesee County with the heaviest snow expected south of Buffalo and far southern Genesee County.

Residents are told to expect difficult travel with deep snow cover on roads and poor visibility. There will be areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Heavy snow will fall in relatively narrow bands. If traveling, be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and visibility.

Cancellations and closures:

• Elba Central Schools will be closed tomorrow due to the state of emergency declared by Governor Hochul and the forecasted winter storm. 
• Byron-Bergen Schools will be closed, and all activities will be canceled on Thursday.
• Batavia City Schools will be closed for classes and activities on Thursday.
• BOCES is closed
• Richmond Memorial Libray is closed.
• Notre Dame is Closed.
• Pembroke Central School District is closed Thursday
• Oakfield-Alabama Central School District is closed Thursday
• Alexander Central School District is closed Thursday
• Pavilion Central School District is closed Thursday
• Le Roy Central School District is closed Thursday
• Genesee Community College is closed.
• Northgate Free Methodist Church office is closed for Thursday.
• The Batavia Society of Artists show opening at Richmond Memorial Library will be rescheduled in January.
• The Christmas Dance for Adults with Developmental Disabilities has been postponed due to the winter weather. The dance is rescheduled for Thursday, December 19^th at 6 p.m. Please pass this information on to your dancing buddies!
• Due to the County Travel Advisory, The Pembroke Town Board meeting Scheduled for tonight is being moved to Wednesday 12/18 at 6:00 PM.

Please email cancellations and closures to news@thebatavian.com.

Staying open:

• Northside Deli.

Regarding the State of Emergency, Gov. Kathy Hochul said, “As winter weather bears down on our State, I am declaring a State of Emergency so our communities have the resources they need to stay safe. We are deploying resources and working alongside our partners in government as we prepare for every possibility — I encourage all New Yorkers to stay alert, stay off the roads if possible, and keep in contact with family and friends as we move through the next 48 hours.” 

The State of Emergency is in effect for Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Franklin, Genesee, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Wyoming and contiguous counties.

Please send weather updates to news@thebatavian.com. Please send weather photos to howard@thebatavian.com or text to 585-260-6970.

Thursday, Dec. 5:

• Batavia City Schools are closed and all activities are canceled.
• The Richmond Memorial Library is closed.
• Alexander Central School is closed.
• Genesee Valley BOCES is closed.
• Oakfield-Alabama Central Schools is closed.
• Pembroke Central Schools is closed.
• Casella Waste has postponed residential service in Batavia
• Northgate's Vintage Christmas is canceled for Thursday but Friday's event will go ahead as planned.
• Notre Dame High School is closed.
• The Ascension Parish Caroling, Cocoa and Tree Trimming is postponed.
• The Batavia Society of Artists opening reception at the Richmond Memorial Library is postponed.
• Varsity Girls basketball of Elba at Batavia has been postponed

Weather updates for Saturday and Sunday.  Please send your updates to news@thebatavian.com

• Batavia Downs: The weather and roads are clear in Batavia at this time, so all scheduled events for tonight are on—including the Bar Crawl starting at 5 p.m., Live Harness Racing at 6 p.m. and the Free Nerds Gone Wild concert inside Park Place beginning at 8 p.m.

A tornado warning has been issued for southwestern Genesee County.

At 8:33 p.m., a thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Pembroke, seven miles north of Darien Lake State Park.  It is moving southeast at 15 mph.

The warning is in effect until 9 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service, there is the potential for flying debris that is dangerous to those without shelter. Mobile homes could be damaged or destroyed. There could be damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles. Tree damage is likely. 
 

The viaduct on Main Street in Le Roy flooded this afternoon during heavy rain.  The roadway is now clear and reopened.

The viaduct on Ellicott Street near Chapin also reportedly flooded.

Send flood pictures to news@thebatavian.com

A tornado warning has been issued for Batavia, Byron, Oakfield, Stafford, Bergen, Corfu, Elba, and Alexander.

The warning is in effect until 2 p.m. Wednesday.

A tornado was reported on Wednesday near Attica and moving northeast at 30 mph.

Weather sports reported the tornado.

UPDATE 1:50 p.m.: A tornado reportedly touched down at Route 77 and Route 5 in Pembroke.  So far, no damage has been reported.  If you have photos or video, please send to howard@thebatavian.com or text 585-260-6970.

Press release:

The Batavia Concert Band will be at GCC at 7 p.m. on Wednesday due to current and forecasted weather conditions.  Please join us in the dry and warm indoors at the Stuart Steiner Theatre at GCC to hear some fantastic music led by Perry CSD Music Teacher and Concert Band guest conductor Dillon Hirsch. 

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for all of Western New York, including Genesee County.

The watch is in effect until 9 p.m. Wednesday

UPDATE 1:20 p.m.: There is a warning in place now until 1:45 p.m. for Darien and Pembroke. At 1:11 p.m., a tornado was reported in Billington Heights and over East Aurora, moving northeast at 40 mph. The weather service warns, "Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely."

Previously: Weather services warns of heavy rain, thunderstorms, elevated risk of tornadoes

Press release from the National Weather Service for Wednesday:

Heavy rain from the tropical remnants of Beryl will soak the region today and tonight with rainfall amounts ranging from a half inch across the western Southern Tier and up to two inches across the lake plains from Buffalo to Rochester...to potentially more than three inches over the Eastern Lake Ontario region. This could lead to local flooding problems...particularly in urban areas and areas with elevated terrain.

Possibly a greater risk will come from strong thunderstorms that will develop this afternoon. While there will be tropical downpours and localized wind gusts to 40 mph...there will be an unusually elevated risk for tornadoes. The greatest risk for tornadic activity will be across the Finger Lakes region and parts of the western Southern Tier.

It's a familiar scene that always returns this time of year, and it's as frustrating for bystanders as it is easy to avoid: leaving pets inside vehicles during the dog days of summer. And the one simple message from animal welfare advocates such as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is to use some common sense and not put animals in harm's way when the temperatures soar. 

On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to 100 degrees in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 109 degrees in less than 10 minutes.

Dogs, who don’t sweat and can cool themselves only by panting, can rapidly succumb to heatstroke, even if a vehicle is parked in the shade with the windows slightly open, which has little to no effect on lowering the temperature inside.

Besides the well-being factor for animals, there's the reality that anyone who leaves animals outside to suffer in severe weather may be  prosecuted for cruelty.

The following tips, provided by PETA, will help keep animal companions safe in hot weather:

• Keep animals indoors, and leave them at home when it’s hot outside.  Unlike humans, dogs can sweat only through their footpads and cool themselves by panting, so even brief sun exposure can have life-threatening consequences. Anyone who sees animals in distress and is unable to help should note their locations and alert authorities immediately.
• Never leave an animal inside a hot vehicle.  Temperatures can quickly soar in parked cars, and a dog trapped inside can die from heatstroke within minutes—even if the car is in the shade with the windows slightly open, which has little to no effect on lowering the temperature inside the car. PETA offers  an emergency window-breaking hammer  for help with intervening in life-or-death situations.
• Avoid hot pavement. When outdoor temperatures reach the 80s, asphalt temperatures can climb to 140-degrees, causing pain, burns, and permanent damage to dogs’ paws after just a few minutes of contact. Walk dogs on grass whenever possible, and avoid walking in the middle of the day. 
• Never run with dogs  in hot weather—they’ll collapse before giving up, at which point, it may be too late to save them.

So leave the hotdogs to Batavia Peace Garden's regular sale outside of Holland Land Office, baseball games, picnics and barbecues. Everyone will be happier.

Area residents have been seeking out the spray park in Austin Park, Batavia, seeking some relief from the heatwave that has rolled through Genesee County.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory in effect until 8 p.m. on Thursday. With temperatures in the 90s, the heat index is hitting around 100.

Localized flooding in Pavilion created a swimming opportunity for two kids in their own front yard on Perry Road, said Shari Joy, who spotted the kids having fun in the large puddle on Friday afternoon.

Two photos of the sunset taken off Kelsey Road in the town of Batavia on Tuesday evening.

Photos submitted by Corey Coles.

A high wind watch starts on Wednesday at 11 a.m., carrying a significant threat to safety and property, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters expect winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.

High winds are expected through Wednesday night.

Possible difficulties include toppled trees, downed power lines, scattered power outages, and travel could be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.