High Wind — Orleans, New York

2024-12-29 to 2024-12-30 · Orleans, New York

Event narrative

Several reports of trees and powerlines downed in the Town of Shelby and in the Town of Ridgeway.

Wider weather episode

An area of low pressure tracked from the Ohio Valley into southern Ontario and then into western Quebec. As the surface low tracked just west and north of the Buffalo forecast area, it also strengthened at the same time from 996 hPa to around 988 hPa. While the strengthening of the system wasn't overly impressive, it was enough when combined with the passage of its cold front and the cold air advection to bring winds of 55-63 mph across portions of western New York.

Notable wind gusts include: 63 MPH at the Buffalo Airport ASOS and 59 MPH at the Niagara Falls Airport ASOS. Damage during this event included several reports of trees down across the warned area, including a few trees downed onto powerlines.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1225625. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.