High Wind in Orleans, New York

Low pressure tracked from the upper Great Lakes to Quebec with a trailing cold front crossing the region. Unlike in most high wind events, the strong winds from this system occurred before the cold frontal passage with mixing of a 80 kt low level jet due to the strong March sunshine. Because of the timing as well, and with a warm air mass in place, the strongest winds occurred away from the Great Lakes, where cold surface water reduced instability in the lowest levels and thus reduced wind gusts near the lakeshore areas. Selected wind gust reports included 68 mph at Elma Center, 58 mph at the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport, 66 mph in Batavia, 72 mph at the Rochester Airport, 64 mph at the Niagara Falls Airport, 58 mph at Clifton Springs, 64 mph at Medina, 58 mph at Ontario, 59 mph at Wyoming, at 58 mph at the East Aurora mesonet site.