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Weather Watch: Dec. 5, 2010

By Howard B. Owens

We'll update this post periodically with anything we hear that seems related to the weather.

First, it's in Monroe County, but about 20 minutes ago Le Roy Fire and Bergen Fire responded to an accident on the 490. It was a non-injury rollover accident in the median. Fire units are clearing the scene.

Now, a property damage accident is reportedly blocking Route 33 at Dublin Road.

UPDATE 5:12 p.m.: A highway man on Bank Street Road reports, "It's a little wild out this way."

UPDATE 5:43 p.m.: It appears that the worst of it hit the Byron-Bergen area and that band of snow is now passing to the east. The radar map show no new bands hitting Genesee County in the next five or six hours. We'll see.

UPDATE 6 p.m.: A car has hit a utility pole on Asbury Road, Le Roy. No injuries, no wires down, but the pole is snapped. National Grid requested to the scene.

UPDATE 7:05 p.m.: Vehicle off the road on the 490 near mile marker 1.

UPDATE 7:32 p.m.: Tree down on Bethany Center Road, just south of Ellicott Street Road.

Weather: Lake effect snow warning through midnight tomorrow

By Howard B. Owens

Between six to 12 inches of snow could fall on Genesee County over the next 30 hours, the National Weather Service reports.

But the Buffalo office has issued a lake effect snow warning that covers Genesee, Niagara and Orleans counties.

Winds are expected to blow at 15 to 30 mph.

In places, visibility will be cut to a half mile at times.

Difficult driving conditions are expected with blowing and drifting snow.

This evening, highway workers have been heard on the radio discussing the possibility of roadways icing over quickly as the sun sets.

PHOTOS: Snowy conditions late this afternoon at Elmwood Cemetery, Batavia.

Reader photos: Snow and flooding

By Howard B. Owens

Lori Ann Santini sent in this picture of a mulberry tree and barn in Corfu today.

Below is a picture from Annmarie Dilaura of Kibbe Park.

One more picture each from Lori Ann and Annmarie after the jump.

 

Photos: Winter wonderland in Genesee County

By Howard B. Owens

The other day in looking at this picture of the Old Courthouse, I realized instead of trying to photograph the courthouse where it is just the building and not the trees -- an impossible task -- I need to work the trees appropriately into the picture. With all the snow on the branches, I thought today would be a good time to give that a try. After trying out nearly a dozen angles, this is what I settled on. About 10 minutes before snapping this picture, Mary Pat Hancock walked into the building, which gave me the idea of waiting until I could get a person walking up the stairs to add a little extra interest.

Below is a picture of a landscape you've seen before -- off Lewiston Road heading toward Oakfield. And there are more pictures after the jump.

Austin Park

Austin Park

Austin Park

A new shot of the same 100-year-old mulberry tree we featured a few days ago.

Weather: Lake effect snow warning extended

By Howard B. Owens

For a couple of days, the National Weather Service has been telling us that the lake effect snow warning covering most of Western New York would expire in the early evening today.

Now, they say, expect lake effect snow until at least 11 p.m.

The heaviest bands of lake effect snow should move north (meaning, possibly into Batavia) by early afternoon.

The southwestern parts of the county could see 1 to 2 inches of snowfall per hour, much less in the northern parts of the county.

The weather service also notes:

IN LAKE EFFECT SNOW THE WEATHER CAN VARY FROM LOCALLY HEAVY SNOW IN NARROW BANDS TO CLEAR SKIES JUST A FEW MILES AWAY. IF YOU WILL BE TRAVELING ACROSS THE REGION BE PREPARED FOR RAPID CHANGES IN ROAD AND VISIBILITY CONDITIONS.

IF YOU LOSE POWER AND PLAN ON RUNNING A GENERATOR...MAKE SURE THE GENERATOR IS LOCATED OUTDOORS AND PROPERLY VENTILATED. SPACE HEATERS SHOULD ALSO BE PROPERLY VENTILATED...AND ONLY USE THEM IF THEY ARE OPERATING PROPERLY.

Photos: More photos from Wednesday's snow showers

By Howard B. Owens

This afternoon, just about anywhere I looked I could see a possible picture. I would have been out longer, but 4 p.m. rolled around and it was time to cover the Genesee County Legislature, which also explains why I'm just now getting the afternoon's photos posted.

Above, a tree on the grounds of the VA Center. Below, Vincent DiRisio helps his grandfather Harry Wortzman shovel his driveway. More pictures after the jump.

Centennial Park

Close up of the berries on the tree pictured above.

The clothesline in our own backyard.

Lake effect snow watch announced for Wednesday and Thursday

By Howard B. Owens

Lake effect snow is forecast for at least parts of Genesee County on Wednesday afternoon and into Thursday.

Where snowfall is the heaviest, there could be up to a foot of accumulation.

The National Weather Service said the current pattern indicates lake effect snow hitting southern Genesee County, and possibly Batavia, but a slight change in wind direction could push the storm further north with Batavia getting the heaviest accumulation. Then again, a wind direction change could push the storm further south.

Wind, snow, ice contributing to accidents, cars off the road

By Howard B. Owens

There have been multiple reports of cars off the road in various parts of the county and a couple of accidents.

Currently, a car is off the road with unknown injuries at 1045 Perry Road. The caller did not see anybody get out of the car.

Bethany Fire is just clearing the scene of a two-car property damage accident on Route 63.

One car is reportedly stuck in the middle of the road on State Street Road near Saile Drive.

UPDATE 11:55 a.m.: The accident on Route 63 was a car into a tree and two people were injured. They're being transported to UMMC now.

UPDATE 12:44 p.m.: Car has hit a pole in the area of East Road and Dublin Road, unknown injuries. The vehicle is leaking fluids. Bethany Fire dispatched.

UPDATE 1:15 p.m.: Vehicle off the road, still occupied, in the area of 5669 Ellicott Street Road.

Photos: First snow day in Genesee County

By Howard B. Owens

What may be some sort of willow tree on Pekin Road. UPDATE: It's a mulberry tree. Sharon Ladd (formerly Dean, this was the Dean residence), who grew up on the property called to thank us for the picture. She said it's a beautiful tree year around. It's easily more than 100 years old, she said. She said there have been problems with the town over the years because the snow plow drivers think it is dead, so they're not too careful about hitting it. That's why the one branch is held up by a iron pole.

Barn, Pekin Road.

Drake Street Road.

Photo: Some snow in Downtown Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

It's not much yet, and even seems to be slowing down since this picture was taken, but there was some snow in Downtown Batavia around 2:30 p.m.

Here's what it looked like at 3:30 p.m.

Photos: When will it snow?

By Howard B. Owens

Blake Polito, Mitch Riter and Austin Wilkson can't wait for it to snow so they can ski.

But while they wait, they hit upon an ingenious idea -- use the ice dumped from the Zamboni at the Falleti Ice Arena to fashion a mini ski ramp and get some practice in now.

The trio was out behind the arena today practicing-- with permission, they said, from the arena management.

If it's snow they want, they reportedly won't have long to wait. The National Weather Service has issued a lake effect snow watch from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening for parts of Genesee County, including, potentially, Batavia.

Two more pictures after the jump:

Thunderstorm warning in place for parts of Genesee County

By Howard B. Owens

For the next 30 minutes, parts of Genesee County are in the path of a thunderstorm that has prompted a warning from the National Weather Service.

The thunderstorm warning is effect until 7 p.m.

Winds may exceed 60 mph.

The line of storms were located 17 miles west of Medina and 13 miles west of Darien and moving east at 50 mph.

The weather service said that while these thunderstorms contain very little lightning, "do not wait for the sight of lightning or sound of thunder to seek shelter."

UPDATE: Warning cancelled. The Weather Service reports that doppler radar showed the storm weakening at 6:46 p.m.

Reader Photo: Rainbow over East Road, Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

Reader Amanda Bisig sent in this photo with this note:

My dad (John Bisig) sent me these photos that he took around 4:30 p.m. today, and asked me to send them in. They were taken on East Road in Batavia, where he was combining corn today. The photo you uploaded a few days ago of the Reinke irrigation system from the corner of Transit and Chapel roads in Byron is  also owned by the same farm (My-T-Acres) -- and we live in the farmhouse across the street from that one you photographed. Thought you might enjoy the photo!

Weather service warns of cold snap tonight

By Howard B. Owens

To me, 36 degrees is not "extreme cold," but it's worth noting that we've received our first "extreme cold alert" of the season.

It's supposed to get down to 36 tonight with a wind chill factor -- the "feels like" temperature -- dropping to 30 degrees.

There will be a 16 mph wind from the northwest.

There is a 20 percent chance of precipitation.

Weather: weather-related calls

By Howard B. Owens

Rather than separate posts for each weather-related call, we'll update this single post.

A transformer is on fire at Ledge and Lewiston roads.

Currently, National Grid reports only two minor power outages in the Alabama area.

UPDATE 9:14 p.m.: Nothing found on the Ledge Road/Route 77 to report.

UPDATE 9:16 p.m.: A power outage effecting 25 households has been reported in West Alabama along Lewiston Road.

UPDATE 9:24 p.m.: Severe thunderstorm warning is canceled.

Weather: Severe thunderstorm warning until 9:30 p.m.

By Howard B. Owens

At 8:35 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Genesee County.

The warning is in effect until 9:30 p.m.

The storm is capable of producing quarter-size hail and winds in excess of 60 mph.

The storm is producing cloud-to-ground lightening. 

The weather service warns, "Lightning is one of nature's number-one killers. If you can hear thunder, you're close enough to be struck by lightning."

Get inside! Severe thunderstorm warning!

By Billie Owens

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Genesee County until 7:30 p.m.

The storm is now in north Townawanda, eastbound at 40 mph.

Winds are 60 mph. Large hail, strong winds, thunder and heavy rain are expected.

UPDATE: NWS cancelled the warning at 6:57 p.m.

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