weather

It's cold tonight -- a wind chill advisory is in effect -- and snow, up to 19 inches possible, is expected starting tomorrow night, according to the National Weather Service.

The wind chill could make temperatures outside feel 15 degrees below zero.

As for the possible snowstorm, a warning is in effect from 9 p.m. Sunday until 7 p.m., Monday, with from 12 to 19 inches of snow accumulating possible. Wind gusts could be up to 40 mph on Monday.

The weather service advises travel could be difficult to impossible.

The dangers of the wind child include possible hypothermia unless precautions are taken.

As Branson Butler, a student at Wolcott School, walked up to the new ice skating rink in Trigon Park in Le Roy, he yelled back to his friends trailing him, "It's huge!"

Branson said he can't wait to skate on the new rink and he expects Saturday's cold weather to freeze the water.

He said his parents are buying him new skates.

The forecast for Saturday calls for single-digit temperatures.

The rink is paid for by federal COVID-19 relief funds provided to local municipalities.

Previously: Le Royans can move off the creek and onto a new ice skating rink this winter

A winter storm could hit Genesee County on Wednesday bringing up to nine inches of lake effect along with gusts of 40 mph.

Travelers should be prepared for blowing and drifting snow.

The storm watch is in effect from Wednesday evening through Thursday evening.

Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. 

This is County Building #2 on West Main Street Road, Batavia, earlier this evening.

Press release:

National Grid crews have restored power to 212,000, or 97%, of the nearly 221,000 upstate New York customers impacted by the severe windstorm that caused significant and widespread damage across the region over the weekend. The storm brought gusts of up to 80 mph in some regions and left behind hundreds of broken utility poles, damaged transformers, toppled trees, tree limbs and downed wires.

“While we have made steady progress, there is still work to be done and our expanded field force will continue to work around the clock to ensure every customer’s service is restored as safely and quickly as possible,” said Matt Barnett, National Grid’s Vice President of New York Electric Operations. He noted that the remaining outages are in regions that experienced the most extensive storm damage, including Erie, Genesee, Monroe, Orleans and Niagara counties in western New York, and Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties in northern New York.

“Our crews are in these regions continuing the hand-to-hand combat of cleanup, reconstruction and restoration. We understand the inconvenience of being without power and will continue to restore service hour by hour.”

The company is providing the following regional estimated times of restoration for customers who remain without service after the weekend storm. Power is being consistently restored to customers in these regions and ETRs are updated on the company’s Outage Central site. Additionally, customers can check on the power restoration estimate for their specific address by logging into our Report or Check an Outage page.

Northern New York: 95% of storm-related outages have been restored. Remaining single customer outages and isolated pockets of customers in the most severely impacted areas will be restored through the overnight hours and into Tuesday.

Western New York

• Southwest Region, including Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties: Any

  remaining storm-related outages will be restored by midnight tonight.

• Frontier Region, including Erie and Niagara counties: Restoration is expected to be

  complete by midnight tonight, with single customer outages and isolated pockets of customers in the most severely impacted areas being restored through the overnight hours and into Tuesday.

• Genesee Region, including Genesee, Orleans and Monroe counties: This region experienced the most extensive storm damage. Crews are in the field restoring service hour by hour and 95% of customers in these areas will have service restored by 5 p.m. Tuesday, with the remaining customers in the hardest-hit communities seeing power restored through Tuesday evening.

Customers who remain without power when their neighbors have been restored are encouraged to call National Grid at 1-800-867-5222.

Once restoration has been completed, National Grid crews will remain in the field for the days that follow to complete storm cleanup. The company reminds motorists to use caution as they approach work areas, to ensure the safety of utility and other storm-response personnel.

Press release:

On Saturday, December 11, 2021, Batavia High School’s roof sustained damage due to severe weather that passed through Genesee County. 

On Sunday, December 12, the building was inspected, and it was determined that there was no structural damage and it was safe for students and staff to return.  

During the inspection, it was determined that the roof of the Batavia High School auditorium sustained damage, including the dampers that bring in outside air to that part of the building. Per regulations from the State Education Department, to be able to use the auditorium, we must be able to draw in outside air.

On Monday, December 13, all Batavia City Schools were open, and a roofing company began work to weatherproof the BHS roof and determine long-term repair requirements.

Therefore, the BHS auditorium will remain closed until we have determined what resources will be needed to restore the auditorium to code in order to be used by students, staff, and the community.

The rest of Batavia High School is operational for students and staff.  

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and we will provide additional information as soon as it becomes available. 

Photos: Reader-submitted photos.

Press release:

National Grid’s upstate New York field force of more than 3,400 workers has restored power to nearly 180,000 of the approximately 215,000 customers impacted by the powerful windstorm that swept across the region Saturday through this morning. The storm, which included gusts of up to 80 mph in some areas, brought significant and widespread damage to the company’s electricity delivery system, leaving behind at least 225 broken utility poles, 100 damaged transformers, and hundreds of toppled trees, tree limbs, and downed wires.

Among the hardest hit were areas along the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, including Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Monroe, Oswego, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
Crews have been working around the clock since the storm began to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

The company is providing the following general estimated times of restoration for customers who remain without service. Power is being consistently restored to customers in these regions and ETRs are updated on the company’s Outage Central site. Additionally, customers can check on the power restoration estimate for their specific address by logging into our Report or Check an Outage page.

• Eastern New York: Restoration will be complete tonight by 11:30 p.m.
• Central New York, including the North Country: Restoration will be complete for 90% of the affected customers by 6 p.m. Monday.
• Western New York: Restoration will be complete for 90% of affected customers by 11:30 p.m. Monday. The company’s extensive resources, which include support from National Grid New England crews as well as crews from North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Michigan, Indiana, Virginia, and Ontario, will remain in the region until the last outage is repaired.

“This storm has been extremely damaging to our electricity system,” said Matt Barnett, Vice President of New York Electric Operations. “We understand the inconvenience of being without power and our crews will continue to be out there in full force bringing service back to customers as quickly as possible.”

National Grid and City Fire are teaming up today during the area's widespread power outages to distribute dry ice and bottled water to residents without power.

The distribution location is at City Fire headquarters on Evans Street.

There are numerous power outages in Genesee County following last night's heavy winds that blew through the area.

In the City of Batavia, there are a dozen separate outages with the two largest affecting more than 2,000 National Grid customers.  One is centered around the intersection of Main and Oak and the other runs north to south along State Street.

There's also an outage that starts in the city along Pearl Street and stretches south into the Town of Batavia and affects 739 customers.

Crews have been assigned to those three outages but there is no ETA for power restoration.

Other outages:

• East Pembroke, outages affection 71 and 18 customers, crews assigned, no ETA.
• Indian Falls, 199 customers, crew assigned, no ETA.
• Tonawanda Indian Reservation, 105 customers, crew assigned, no ETA.
• Alabama, two outages 108 customers and 49 customers, crews assigned to both, no ETA.
• The northern part of the Town of Elba, 29 customers, no crew assigned, no ETA.
• The Town and Village of Elba, 329 customers, crew assigned, no ETA
• The Town of Batavia, west of Lewiston Road, north of the Thruway, 137 customers crew assigned, no ETA.  There is a smaller outage to the northwest, 15 customers, no crew assigned, no ETA.
• There are overlapping outages in Byron, South Byron, Stafford, Bergen, Le Roy Town of Batavia, that affect 96 customers (no crew assigned), 816 (crew assigned), 105 (unassigned), 130 (unassigned), 59 (unassigned), and 72 (unassigned).  

Statement from National Grid:

A National Grid field force of more than 3,300 workers is active across upstate New York removing downed wires, trees, tree limbs, broken poles and other hazards, while focusing on public safety and service restoration after a sustained, powerful windstorm hovered over the region Saturday through early this morning. The storm, which included heavy rain and wind gusts of more than 80 mph in some areas, has caused widespread and significant damage across the company’s 25,000-square-mile service area.

Crews have been working around the clock and, as of 10 a.m., have restored power to nearly 148,000 of the more than 215,000 customers impacted by the storm. Hardest hit were areas along the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, including Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Monroe, Oswego, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

In preparation for the storm, the company activated its comprehensive emergency response plan, including securing additional resources and pre-staging crews and materials in areas forecasted to be most severely impacted. Additional crews from North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Michigan, Indiana and Ontario are arriving today to support the restoration efforts.

“This was an extremely destructive storm,” said Matt Barnett, National Grid’s Vice President of New York Electric Operations. “We continue to prioritize public safety as we clean up the widespread damage that includes uprooted trees and downed power lines,” he said.

Barnett noted that cleanup, reconstruction and restoration will be labor-intensive and time-consuming, with some outages in the hardest-hit areas of western, central, and northern New York potentially extending beyond 48 hours. “In addition to our critical public safety activities, we are assessing the damage to our system and equipment in order to provide estimated restoration times.”

National Grid continues to work closely with local officials to coordinate restoration efforts. Customers are reminded to remain aware of potential safety hazards such as damaged trees, particularly broken limbs that haven’t yet fallen to the ground. As always, all downed wires should be considered live and dangerous. All downed wires should immediately be reported to National Grid at 1-800-867-5222 or by calling 911.

Photo: Tree down in Centennial Park submitted by Linda LaPorte

There are three significant power outages reported in Genesee County -- one north of the Thruway in the Pembroke/Alabama area, one north of the Thruway and just west of Lewiston Road in the Town of Batavia and one just east of North Spruce Street and north of East Avenue in the City of Batavia.

The first outage effects 75 National Grid customers, the second, 137 customers, and the third, 88 customers. Currently, 340 customers in the county are without power.

There is no ETA yet for when power will be restored in these areas. National Grid has assigned work crews to each outage.

UPDATE 4:15 p.m.: City Fire reports a transformer explosion in the area of Oak and Main where the traffic light is out of service.

UPDATE 4:42 p.m.: There is a power outage in the area of Horseshoe Lake and another in East Pembroke.  Dispatchers are handling calls related to multiple trees and poles down throughout the county.  A tree has fallen on a house at 12 Union St, Le Roy.  Wires are down but no arcing or sparking.

UPDATE 4:56 p.m.:  There is a large outage in the city affecting 1,538 customers along East and West Main Streets going as far north as the Thruway, as far west as Park Road, as far south as Chestnut, and to Ross on East.  Route 63 is now closed as well, between Route 5 and Galloway Road for poles in the road.

UPDATE 5:10 p.m.: National Grid reports 2,360 customers (out of 27,109) without power in Genesee County, with an estimated restoration time of 7 p.m. By town -- Town of Batavia 150, City of Batavia 1,640, Alabama 185, Stafford 98, Pembroke 124, Oakfield 17, Elba 15, Le Roy 39, Darien 44, Byron 39.

UPDATE 5:20 p.m.: Poles down blocking Route 98 in both directions between W. Saile Rd. and Elba Townline Rd.

UPDATE 5:50 p.m.: The number of customers without power in the county is up to 4,172, per National Grid, which indicates it is "assessing condition." By town -- Alabama 254, Alexander 120, Batavia 152, City of Batavia 1,642, Bergen 183, Byron 46, Village of Corfu 56, Darien 436, Elba 45, Le Roy 40, Oakfield 51, Pavilion 2, Pembroke 955, Stafford 190. 

UPDATE: There are numerous ongoing power outages in Genesee County. The total number of customers without power is 8,177.

• There is a power outage centered in Elba that affects 329 customers with no crew assigned.
• There is an outage covering Byron, Stafford, and some of Bergen affecting 816 customers with no crew assigned.
• There is an outage in Byron and Stafford affecting 96 customers with no crew assigned.
• There is an outage north of the Thruway and west of Lewiston Road affecting 137 customers with no crew assigned.
• There is an outage in Bethany and Alexander affecting 279 customers with no crew assigned.
• There is an outage in Darien near Six Flags affecting 45 customers with no crew assigned.
• There is an outage in Le Roy affecting 59 customers with no crew assigned.
• There are two outages in Alabama affecting more than 150 customers, neither with a crew assigned.
• There is an outage west of Indian Falls affecting 110 customers, no crew assigned.
• There is an outage in Basom affecting 105 customers, no crew assigned.

Top photo: A Batavia police officer conducts traffic at Main and Oak.  Below, photo submitted by Chantel Zambito of a tree that fell on a semi-truck on Lewiston Road.

Press release:

For the second consecutive weekend, National Grid has increased staffing, extended evening and overnight work shifts, and is closely monitoring weather forecasts that include wind gusts of up to 70 mph and heavy rainfall across portions of upstate New York today into Sunday. Areas along the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are expected to experience the strongest wind gusts. More than 2,500 lines, service, tree, damage assessment, and public safety workers are ready to respond to damage that may occur.

To prepare for the storm, the company activated its comprehensive emergency response plan, including:

• Calling in outside resources and mobilizing field and tree crews.
• Pre-staging crews and materials in areas anticipated to be most severely impacted.
• Proactively reaching out to elected, municipal and emergency management officials to keep them updated on our preparations and provide safety information.
• Reaching out directly to customers through traditional and social media, email and texts and on our website to provide safety information and to urge them to be prepared.
• Conducting outbound calls to life support and critical facility customers to ensure they are prepared.
  In addition, on Sunday, Dec. 12, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., the company will distribute dry ice and bottled water at targeted locations expected to be hardest hit by the storm.

​Company personnel will provide information about proper handling of dry ice, and customers are asked to bring a bag or cooler to transport it.
Western New York Dry Ice and Bottled Water Locations:

• City of Batavia Fire Dept. 18 Evans St. Batavia, N.Y. 14020

The company also is encouraging customers to keep safety a priority with the following reminders:

Electricity & Generator Safety

• If a power outage occurs, customers can notify National Grid online to expedite restoration.
• Never touch downed power lines; always assume they are carrying live electricity. Downed lines should be immediately reported to National Grid at 1-800-867-5222 or by calling 911.
• Generators used to supply power during an outage must be operated outdoors to prevent the buildup of deadly carbon monoxide. Before operating a generator, be sure to disconnect from National Grid’s system by shutting off the main breaker, located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could endanger our crews and your neighbors.
• Customers who depend on electrically powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should register as a life support customer by calling National Grid at 1-800-642- 4272. In a medical emergency, always dial 911.
• Keep working flashlights and an extra supply of batteries in your home and be sure to charge all electronic devices before the storm.
• Please use caution when driving near emergency responders and crews restoring power.
• Be sure to check on elderly family members, neighbors, and others who may need assistance during an outage. Click here for details on the company’s storm preparation and restoration process.

The National Weather Service is predicting heavy winds in the area from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. this evening.

The westerly winds could hit 35 to 45 mph with gusts of 70 mph.

Impacts:  "Damaging winds will blow down numerous trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Some property damage is likely. Travel will be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles."

Press Release:

National Grid is increasing staffing, extending evening and overnight work shifts and closely monitoring an upstate New York weather forecast that calls for high winds, scattered rain and potential thunderstorms on Saturday. In preparation for the storm, the company has increased its
statewide field force and activated its comprehensive emergency response plan, including:

• Calling in outside resources, and mobilizing field and tree crews.
• Pre-staging crews and materials in areas anticipated to be most severely impacted.
• Proactively reaching out to elected, municipal and emergency management officials to keep them updated on our preparations and provide safety information.
• Reaching out directly to customers through traditional and social media, email and texts and on our website to provide safety information and to urge them to be prepared.
• Conducting outbound calls to life support and critical facility customers to ensure they areprepared.

In anticipation of the storm, the company is encouraging customers to keep safety a priority with the following reminders:

Electricity & Generator Safety
• If a power outage occurs, customers can notify National Grid online to expedite restoration.
• Never touch downed power lines; always assume they are carrying live electricity. Downed lines should be immediately reported to National Grid at 1-800-867-5222 or by calling 911.
• Generators used to supply power during an outage must be operated outdoors to prevent the buildup of deadly carbon monoxide. Before operating a generator, be sure to disconnect from National Grid’s system by shutting off the main breaker, located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could endanger our crews and your neighbors.
• Customers who depend on electrically powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should register as a life support customer by calling National Grid at 1-800-642-4272. In a medical emergency, always dial 911.
• Keep working flashlights and an extra supply of batteries in your home and be sure to charge all electronic devices before the storm.
• Please use caution when driving near emergency responders and crews restoring power.
• Be sure to check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage.

Click here for details on the company’s storm preparation and restoration process.
News Release

National Grid Prepares For High Winds, Rain Across Portions of Upstate New York

Company Increasing Staffing; customers are reminded to keep safety a priority

Stay informed and connected
• Customers with active electricity accounts who text ‘REG’ to 64743 can have
personalized alerts sent to them via text, email or phone call when we detect an outage on
their properties.
• Customers also can text ‘OUT’ to 64743 to report an outage.
• For real-time power outage information, online outage reporting, and in-depth storm
safety information, visit National Grid’s Outage Central website. Customers who create an
online profile also can sign up for email alerts.
• Visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com, follow us on Twitter and friend us on Facebook.

A power outage affecting more than 2,100 National Grid customers is reported on the east side of Batavia.

The outage includes all of Stafford, parts of East Bethany, Byron, and Batavia, including, it appears, Genesee Community College.

Town of Batavia Fire received a report of a wire down in the area of 5167 Sunset Terrace.

A smaller power outage is reported along Road Road, Town of Batavia, affecting 54 customers.  The ETA for power restoration is 5:45 p.m.

On the larger outage, crews expect to restore power by 6:15 p.m.

There is also a tree down blocking State Street Road near the Thruway.

Statement from National Grid:

National Grid is increasing staffing, extending evening and overnight work shifts and closely monitoring an upstate New York weather forecast that calls for high winds, with gusts up to 60 mph, and a wintry mix of precipitation across portions of the region tonight through Monday evening.

A tree is down and blocking both lanes of Traffic on Route 33 near Lovers Lane in the Town of Batavia.

A deputy on scene has requested the assistance of another patrol to help with traffic control at Lovers Lane.

DOT has been notified and is dispatching a crew.

When it comes to being prepared for natural disasters, especially weather-related events, Genesee County is flying above the storm.

That was the message shared this afternoon by Judith Levan, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service’s Buffalo Office, as she announced the county’s standing as an NWS StormReady community.

Levan and Mike Fries, NWS warning coordination meteorologist, presented the StormReady office sign and certificate, to Tim Yaeger, coordinator of the county’s Emergency Management Services department, at a meeting of the County Legislature’s Public Service Committee at the Old County Courthouse.

“It is with great pleasure that I am here to represent the National Weather Service to present a StormReady community sign to Genesee County for its efforts to become recognized as a Storm Ready community,” she said. “In particular, I’d like to extend our sincere appreciation to Tim Yaeger … for the tremendous effort he has exhibited to accomplish the goals set forth in the program.”

Levan said that EMS employees have cultivated a strong working relationship with the Buffalo NWS Office, adding that she and her staff “recognize the diligent effort to maintain community readiness in anticipation of natural disasters of any type.”

“We do not look forward to any other natural disasters, however, if and when another does occur, you can be confident that officials in the county have improved their communication and safety skills needed to save lives and property. You are an excellent example for other municipalities in New York State and I applaud you for your efforts,” she said.

Noting that severe weather or flood warnings are ineffective if they aren’t communicated to those potentially affected, Levan said that the Genesee County-NWS partnership is such that “all aspects of communication, warning reception and response are sufficient as possible and that there are many backups in place in case one or more systems fail.”

She said that several requirements must be met to be recognized as a StormReady community:

-- The establishment of a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center;

-- Having multiple ways to receive severe weather forecasting warnings to alert the public;

-- Creating a system that monitors local weather conditions;

-- Promoting the importance of public readiness through community seminars and education;

-- Developing a formal hazardous weather plan that includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency response exercises.

“StormReady communities have the improved communication and safety skills needed to save lives and property before and during the event,” Levan said. “I’m happy to say that Genesee County has not only met these criteria, but has substantially exceeding them in many categories.”

Photo: From left, Legislator Gordon Dibble, Tim Yaeger, Judith Levan and Mike Fries. Photo by Mike Pettinella.

The heat index is expected to be in the mid-90s today and near 100 tomorrow.

Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. 

From the National Weather Service: 

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. 

Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heatstroke is an emergency! Call 911.

The heat index today could reach as high as 100 degrees according to the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the region.

The index will at least hit 95 degrees.

High heat and humidity may cause heat-related illness.

The NWS advises: 

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. 

Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heatstroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.

From the National Weather Service:

At 8:32 p.m. a Special Weather Statement of Hazardous Weather Conditions was issued by the National Weather Service Office in Buffalo.

A line of scattered thurnderstorms will affect Genesee County and other localities. Radar indicated thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Point Breeze to near Varysburg.

Movement was south at 20 mph. Winds in excess of 30 mph are possible with these storms, along with brief torrential downpours and frequent lightning.

Locations impacted include Batavia, Attica and Byron. This includes Interstate 90 between exits 48 and 47.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may cause localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

Frequent cloud-to-ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.