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Weather update: Storm on its way out... but not quite yet—expect thunder snow

By Philip Anselmo

Yeah, that's right... thunder snow. But more on that in a minute. It looks like this storm will hang on throughout the afternoon bringing more of the same, according to the National Weather Service out of Buffalo. Here's what the most recent weather statement has to say on the matter:

The steady moderate to heavy snow that was falling across the Niagara frontier will continue through the remainder of the afternoon... Expect snowfall rates to generally be around one inch per hour. There may be a brief period of heavier snow and thunder as a squall line develops and moves through the region between about 4:00 and 5:00pm. Snowfall for the remainder of the afternoon will be between 3 and 5 inches.

That's right, folks: thunder snow. For those of us south of the Thruway, it seems we'll see the weirdest of the weather, although the snow showers themselves "will be more scattered in nature." That almost sounds like relief, but...

Breaks of snow (will be) followed by brief heavy snowfall and possible thunder. Snowfall amounts will be highly variable this afternoon, with some locations receiving a quick 2 to 4 inches, while other locations receive less.

Winds, too, will be kicking along, gusting between 15 and 25 mph, causing blowing and drifting snow. Travel conditions will remain "hazardous" for the rest of the day. So stay off the road, if you can.

Here's how things look on the radar right now. Visit the Weather Channel online to get up-to-date radar views. From that site, you can see that the tip of the storm has just passed by Erie, Pennsylvania.

Weather update: Be careful where you park

By Brian Hillabush

 I am surprised that in my 4-5 hours of driving I didn't find any cars off the road. But I did manage to find somebody that parked on Main St. Batavia that is probably going to have a difficult time getting out.

UPDATE (by Howard): Interesting, the Daily picked up on the same shot.

Mother of 6-year-old who brought gun onto school bus nailed with drug charges

By Philip Anselmo

City police have come out with more charges against the parents of the 6-year-old boy who brought a loaded handgun onto a school bus Wednesday morning. Carolyn Claudio, 43, of 335 Bank St., Batavia was charged with second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a child.

Police allege that during a search of Claudio's residence Wednesday, a small amount of cocaine and drug paraphernalia were found in the "living area" of the home where they would have been "easily accessible to the children." This is the same residence in which Claudio's 6-year-old son located the loaded handgun that he brought to school with him Wednesday morning. Carolyn Claudio will appear in court to answer the charges on Tuesday.

The boy's father, Juan Claudio Sr., 40, of 108 Jackson St., Batavia, received another charge of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Following the news reports of Juan Claudio's arrest, two Batavia residents came forward to claim that Claudio attempted to sell them a gun this past Saturday at a home in Batavia. When the two were shown the gun that the boy brought on the bus Wednesday, they confirmed that it was, in fact, the same gun that the father had offered for sale.

A report in the Daily News filed this morning by Scott DeSmit states that the boy found the ".22 caliber handgun" at his mother's home under her bed and "tucked inside a velvet Crown Royal whiskey pouch."

For more details, please see our previous coverage. You can also view the response from the city police and school superintendent in our video coverage.

Update at 3:47pm: We spoke with Batavia Det. Richard Schauf to find out more on the status of the two young children, the 6-year-old who brought the gun onto the school bus and his 7-year-old brother who had alerted the bus driver to that fact. Schauf told us that Carolyn Claudio could not be arraigned in court today as it was closed due to the weather. Both children "will remain in the custody of the mom," said Schauf. At least, for now.

The Department of Social Services is supervising the situation. They have been notified of the charges filed against Carolyn Claudio today. Whether they take the children away—"That's their call," said Schauf.

Weather update: Plows are trying, but not keeping up

By Brian Hillabush

 

Try as they might, the city snowplows are having a difficult time keeping the roads clear. If you are driving on Main St. Batavia, it isn't too bad. But pretty much every side street gets filled with snow minutes after the plows have been through.

I'm not sure if it is good news or bad news, but it just came over the scanner that there is sleet starting to mix with the snow. This will limit the amount of blowing snow, but is going to potentially make it more slippery and make the snow that you have to shovel more heavy. 

Weather update: Avoid College Road at all costs

By Brian Hillabush

 

DO NOT DRIVE ON COLLEGE ROAD TODAY!

I cannot stress this enough. I figured I would take the trip and attempt to get a photo of the college from the road. I couldn't go any faster than 5-10 miles per hour and literally couldn't see anything.

When I got close enough to the school, there was nothing but white. So I took a photo of my car in the middle of the road. Or, at least I think it was the middle.

Weather update: A tough walk home

By Brian Hillabush

 

When Eric Herrmann's shift ended at Graham Manufacturing, he called his wife Heather for a ride home. The problem was, the family vehicle was trapped in the driveway and was not going to move.

Unable to get a ride, Herrmann decided to take the walk to his Clinton Street home. I noticed what looked like a snowman walking, so I stopped and took his photo for The Batavian. And of course, I gave him a ride home so the poor guy didn't freeze to death.

Route 77 will close temporarily north of Thruway near the Pembroke interchange

By Philip Anselmo

Update at 2:13pm: Route 77 (Alleghany Road) is still closed off in the Corfu area.

Emergency crews will temporarily close down Route 77 (Alleghany Road) north of the Thruway to clear a tractor trailer that was in an accident there, according to the Genesee County sheriff's dispatchers. Crews need to be able to get in and get out with the tractor trailer. The road should be opened back up shortly after the vehicle is removed. 


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Today's coverage keeps coming

By Howard B. Owens

We've had so many posts so far today that some of our earlier posts have flowed off the home page.

And we've got more posts coming from Brian Hillabush and Philip Anselmo.

If you're just hitting the site for the first time today, or might otherwise have missed some coverage, please scroll to the bottom of the page and click the "next" link on the pager to see any coverage you might have missed.

Also, we continue to welcome any weather pictures or stories you might want to post.

Weather update: Rain, shine or snow - the mail is on its way

By Brian Hillabush

Nothing stops the United States postal service.

Even with massive amounts of snow, the mail is still on its way. I would guess that some carriers might be a little behind schedule because of the conditions, but they are out there.

Weather update: Fighting a losing battle

By Brian Hillabush

 As you drive around, all over the place, you are going to see a lot of people out there shoveling their driveway in an attempt to either get their car out, or fight off the massive amounts that will be on the ground within hours.

Here we see June Weinert of Walnut St. trying to get the snow cleared out so she can get her car out of the driveway.

 

This gentleman's name is Martin Cross and he's trying to stay ahead of the snow fall in his Law St. driveway.

Weather update: Outpatient closures

By Philip Anselmo

We received the following notice of closures at the United Memorial Medical Center:

"Due to today’s severe winter weather the following outpatient services of United Memorial will be closed today:

  • Batavia Family Care

  • Tountas Family Care

  • Tonawanda Seneca Family Care

  • Byron Family Care

  • The Corporate Health Center

  • All services at the Jerome Center including laboratory and medical imaging

  • Pembroke Diagnostic Center

  • LeRoy Diagnostic Center

  • Cardiac Rehab Services, EKG, Echo and Stress Testing"

Thruway near Pembroke is a hot spot for speeding tickets... but probably not today

By Philip Anselmo

A special section in this Sunday's Democrat & Chronicle will run down the details on speeding tickets: what to do when you get pulled over and what to do once you've got the ticket. Folks in Genesee County may want to pay close attention. Pembroke, it turns out, ranks third in number of tickets issued for the Thruway.

Pembroke, Genesee County, is the No. 3 spot on Interstate 90 for speeding tickets, according to a Democrat and Chronicle analysis of state Department of Motor Vehicle records. Last year, State Police issued almost 5,000 tickets resulting in convictions along the stretch of the Thruway in Genesee County; 1,738 were issued in Pembroke. Pembroke Town Court allows most speeders to plead to a lesser violation by mail.

Somehow, I don't think speeding will be a problem there today. Here are the current conditions at the Pembroke interchange:

Weather Update: Plow troubles in Alabama

By Brian Hillabush

 Driving through Alabama, I just noticed a man working on his snow plow in front of the Alabama post office.

I stopped to talk to him and found out that on day like today, the worst possible thing could happen .... he ran into electrical problems with the plow.

Drew Klotzbach, owns Alleghany Farm Service and takes care of clearing some of the area businesses in Alabama. That is, once he gets the plow fixed.

Weather Update: Snowy roads in Alabama

By Brian Hillabush

First post from the road. Haven't seen any accidents and nothing has come over the scanner yet, so that is a good thing. Based on this photo taken on Rt 63 in Alabama, it is strongly advised to stay at home.

There will be more updates from around Genesee County to follow.

Traffic cameras have a direct eye on travel conditions around Rochester

By Philip Anselmo

Rochester's Democrat & Chronicle has posted a Google map studded with camera icons that each represent a traffic camera posted around the city of Rochester. Each camera refreshes the picture every few minutes. This is a useful service for folks commuting in and out of the city this morning and afternoon. Although, in the next hour or two, I imagine every camera will be showing about the same thing: white, and conditions around the city and on the roads back to Batavia should be about the same: crummy.

Oh yeah: Don't forget to check out our post from earlier this morning with a pair of live updating cameras posted at the Thruway interchanges with Route I-90 in Le Roy and Pembroke.

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