weather

Matt Luft, a resident off Route 98 in Elba, cleared a path through the snow for his chickens this morning.

Photo by Laura Luft.

Send your weather-related photos to howard@thebatavian.com or text to (585) 260-6970.

Dan Maxwell, outside Sacred Hear at Summit and Swan Street, was shoveling snow this morning, like a lot of Batavians were doing today after about a foot of snow fell overnight. 

A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect until 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Shalana Thomas shovels snow on Jackson Street while Trey Odom plays in the snow and Zuri Odom helps with the shoveling.

John Roche outside his store, Adam Miller Toys and Bicycles on Center Street.

Alex Bedford on South Swan.

This list of closures and cancellations will be updated as The Batavian receives submissions.

• Batavia City School District and all after-school activities will be closed Friday.
• St. James Church's Basket Raffle and Pie Sale has been canceled Friday and will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Elba Central School is closed on Friday due to the weather.  All athletic and extracurricular activities are canceled as well.
• The City of Batavia's Mall Market will be closed this Saturday due to the threat of inclement weather and hazardous road conditions. We plan to resume the Mall Market at the Batavia City Centre Mall the following Saturday, Nov. 26, from 8 to 11:30 a.m.
• Le Roy Central School District is closed on Friday.
• GCASA Administrative, Outpatient Clinics/offices in Batavia and Albion will be closed on Friday.  Residential, detox and methadone programs will remain open.  All staff should report.
• Stuff The Cruiser is postponed until Dec. 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Target and Kohls at Batavia Towne Center.
• Independent Living of the Genesee Region is closing the office Friday due to the weather but our staff will be working from home. Call (585) 815-8501 and use the staff directory to reach us.
• Richmond Memorial Library is closed Friday and Saturday.
• The Cornell Cooperative Extension office is closed.
• Santa Day at Oliver's Candies on Saturday has been canceled. 

Email closures and cancellations to news@thebatavian.com.

A lake-effect snow warning has been issued by the National Weather Service starting at 7 p.m. Thursday and going until 1 p.m. on Sunday.

The Weather Service predicts heavy lake-effect snow with total accumulations of two to three feet in the most persistent bands of snow.

The heaviest snow is expected late Thursday evening through Friday night when snowfall rates could exceed three inches per hour.

Snowfall totals of up to four feet will be possible if the main snow band remains stationary for a longer period of time.

Wind gusts of 35 mph are expected to produce patchy, blowing snow.

The Weather Service warns that travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions will impact the Friday morning and evening commutes.

"Heavy snow will fall in relatively narrow bands," states the Weather Service. "If traveling, be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and visibilities."

Press release:

Genesee County’s Sheriff’s Office and emergency officials would like to remind citizens that with the impending snowstorm predicted to affect our area tomorrow night through the weekend, please be prepared to be home for a couple of days should travel become restrictive.  The safest place to be when road conditions worsen is home.  Make sure you have basic emergency necessities (food and water).  Many times, vehicles become stranded on roadways during a snowstorm, making travel for emergency personnel and other drivers difficult and very dangerous. 

“Please remember that even if it is not snowing where you are, the destination you are traveling to may have poor visibility and heavy snow accumulation.  The best and safest option for you and your loved ones is to stay home until the snowstorm passes,” stated Sheriff Sheron. 

Photo by Kristin Smith, North Byron Road, Elba.

Photo by Tom Tharp.

Diane Burroughs took this photo this morning of what looked like a curtain of clouds coming down on Call Parkway in Batavia.

The clear evening sky at sunset in Pembroke.

Photo by Joanne Meiser.

A rainbow arched over football practice at the Tri-Town athletic field in Alexander yesterday.

Photo by John Szymkowiak.

It rained for much of the day yesterday, but a rainbow arched over Batavia in the early evening.

And on Jackson Street, top photo by Patricia Morgan, a double rainbow.

By Stacey Foose

By Jason Smith.

Heavy storm clouds rolling into Batavia early this evening, submitted by a reader who did not provide a name.

A rainbow over a pond in Pembroke, submitted by Jim Reinhardt.

Photo by Lisa Ace.

Storm clouds over Pembroke about an hour before sunset.

Photo by Patricia Morgan.

Joanne Meiser took this sunset picture from Indian Falls Cemetery looking across to the WNY National Cemetery.

Press release:

With high temperatures, we want to be sure you understand possible dangers.  To protect oneself from heat-related stress and prevent heat-related problems, the CDC recommends the following tips:

• Drink cool, nonalcoholic beverages (If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him/her how much you should drink when the weather is hot.)
• Rest.
• Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.
• If possible, seek an air-conditioned environment.
• Wear lightweight clothing.
• If possible, remain indoors in the heat of the day.
• Do not engage in strenuous activities.

Danger signs for Heat Exhaustion-call the doctor if any of these symptoms arise:

• heavy sweating
• paleness
• muscle cramps
• tiredness
• weakness
• dizziness
• headache
• nausea or vomiting
• fainting
• skin – cool & moist
• pulse rate – fast & weak breathing – fast & shallow

Danger signs for Heat Stroke – needing immediate medical attention:

• extremely high body temperature (above 103 degrees F)
• red, hot and dry skin (no sweating)
• rapid strong pulse
• throbbing headache
• dizziness and nausea

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Northwestern Genesee County.

It's in effect until 4:15 p.m.

At 3:15 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located with radar over Youngstown, or 8 miles north of Niagara Falls, moving east at 45 mph.

The storm is producing 60 mph wind gusts and half dollar size hail.

Minor damage to vehicles is possible and the wind could bring down trees or powerlines.

There is a tornado watch in effect until 11 p.m.

UPDATE: The warning is now extended until 5 p.m.

A tornado watch is in effect until 11 p.m. for Genesee County and 11 other WNY counties, according to the National Weather Service.

The watch is also in effect for four Central NY counties -- Cayuga, Jefferson, Lewis, and Oswego.

A tornado hit Alexander in April and Corfu in 2009.

Photo submitted by Tom Tharp.

A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for parts of Genesee County until 9:15 p.m.

The thunderstorm is currently located near Pavilion, according to National Weather Service radar, and has gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail.

Minor damage to vehicles is possible.  Wind damage to powerlines and trees is possible.

The storm is also expected to hit Le Roy and Stafford.

Photo submitted by Sharon Cole.

Joanne Meiser submitted the photo of storm clouds rolling in near McAlpine Road in Indian Falls.

There is a strong thunderstorm alert for parts of Genesee County through 8:30 p.m.

Winds could exceed 35 mph and there may be pea-sized hail.

Areas affected could be Batavia, Darien Lakes State Park, Le Roy, Pembroke, Pavilion, Byron, Oakfield, Stafford, Alabama, Corfu, Elba, and Alexander.