A high wind warning is in effect from 10:00am Tuesday, January 9 until 4:00am Wednesday, January 10, per the National Weather Service. Potentially damaging winds are expected, with sustained winds up to 40mph and gusts up to 65mph predicted for our area. Strong winds are expected to begin in the early afternoon on Tuesday, with the strongest gusts in the late afternoon and evening. Strong gusty winds are expected to continue into early Wednesday morning.
High winds mean a potential for downed trees and power outages. Town Supervisor Bill Smith has been in contact with RG&E and will continue to monitor conditions as they occur. Our Town crews are at the ready and are prepared for whatever the storm may bring.
Strong winds will blow loose items about. Please take the time this evening to bring in or secure anything that could be blown away and cause injury or damage, such as outdoor furniture, balcony items, garbage cans and any remaining holiday decorations.
It’s best to prepare ahead of time in case your power goes out. Take stock of the supplies you may need in the event of a power outage. Batteries and flashlights should be on hand and working. Make sure that smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices are fully charged and consider filling your car’s fuel tank.
If you must be on the road when the wind hits, you could have problems if you drive an SUV, a truck or another tall vehicle. A few tips for road safety during high winds:
• Drive with both hands on the wheel
• Take extra care in high profile vehicles
• Watch for objects blowing across the roadway, downed trees or downed power lines
• In case of downed power lines, call 911 - do not try to free lines or to remove debris yourself
• Avoid anything that may be touching a downed line, including vehicles or tree branches
• If traffic lights are out treat the intersection as if it has stop signs
Please use caution and take care – monitor weather reports, be aware of your surroundings and stay safe!