Severe storms knocked out power to thousands of residents and prompted tornado warnings across Western and Central New York on Wednesday.
Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) is reporting that more than 19,000 customers were without power as of 9:17 p.m.
New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) is also reporting more than 16,000 customers have lost power as of 9:17 p.m.
More than 15,000 National Grid customers also have lost power as of 9:22 p.m., nearly all in Western New York and the Finger Lakes.
Tornado warnings popped up in multiple counties, including Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Genesee, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Niagara, Onondaga, Orleans, Seneca and Wyoming.
Wednesday afternoon, communities from Syracuse and Utica down to the Pennsylvania border were under a flood watch, causing hectic travel for some.
“We expect definitely urban flooding. Ponding and flooding in low-lying areas, then after that there is potential for some creeks rivers and streams to rise to the level of flood stage,” New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Director of the Office of Emergency Management Pete Cichetti said earlier Wednesday. “We will just have to monitor that closely.”