Severe thunderstorms wreaked havoc across the Finger Lakes and Central New York over the weekend, leading to widespread power outages and significant damage to infrastructure. The storms, which struck on Sunday afternoon, March 16, 2025, were fueled by a cold front and resulted not only in damaged structures but also flash flooding and downed utility wires.
According to reports, fallen trees interrupted traffic on John Street in Auburn, and notable damage was recorded at various locations, including a Citgo gas station on Owasco Street. Although there were warnings of tornado activity, no related damage was reported. Local crews worked diligently overnight to restore power and clear debris, reacting to the destruction caused by the gusty winds and saturated soil.
By Monday morning, March 17, 2025, the aftermath of the storms revealed significant challenges. Power outages affected several counties, with Cayuga County experiencing the highest number at 3,422 outages. Other affected areas included Schuyler with 935, Seneca with 866, Steuben with 3,329, Tompkins with 2,917, Yates with 20, and Wayne with 6 outages. National Grid reported approximately 800 customers still without power due to multiple factors such as high winds, downed wires, and fires sparked by the fallen lines.
Reflecting on the situation, Patrick Stella, Communications Manager for National Grid, stated, "With high winds through the day yesterday and overnight, we have been responding to many outage and downed wire calls." Crews worked throughout the Capital Region, including towns such as Nassau, Colonie, New Scotland, and Troy, to restore power.
Meanwhile, the Schenectady area faced its own challenges as three significant outages reported by National Grid left nearly 2,000 customers affected. These outages began around 9 a.m. on the same day, and schools were immediately impacted. Van Antwerp Middle School and Niskayuna High School had to dismiss students early at 11 a.m. due to the interruption of power.
The source of the Schenectady outages was linked to tree damage near the Rosa Road substation. National Grid crews were actively working to restore power, estimating restoration within 1-2 hours of the outages occurring. The number of reported outages was one more signal of the widespread impact of the storm events.
These unfortunate incidents have led to calls for residents to avoid travel if possible until the situation stabilizes and assurance from utility companies is provided. Updates on the restoration efforts can be found through the National Grid website, where users can check outage maps frequently refreshed every 15 minutes.
Recovery from these severe weather events is expected to continue as teams work diligently, often under challenging conditions. With gusty winds starting from the storm day and continuing overnight, more incidents with outages have plagued both residential and commercial areas across the board.
Residents are urged to keep informed and prepared for any potential aftereffects or additional outages as the situation evolves. Local authorities remain vigilant, monitoring the climate conditions and ready to respond to any new developments.
This storm incident serves as another reminder of the seasonal unpredictability of weather patterns and their potential impact on the community. The collaborative efforts of responders and local agencies are highlighted as they race to restore normalcy and safety to the affected areas.
