With winds, floods in forecast, utility braces for power outages
National Grid increases usual staff levels as storm rolls in for holiday weekend
National Grid is increasing staffing to deal with a potentially powerful storm that is expected to bring heavy rain, powerful wind and flooding into the Albany area overnight.
The utility says it expects that its customers in western and central New York will face snowstorms while rain is expected in the Capital Region. In order to deal with potential outages, National Grid has increased its normal staffing levels by 1,900 people.
“The bolstered field force includes external resources and will be deployed as necessary,” the company said.
The changeover arrived Thursday afternoon and is expected to drench the region in rain overnight. Rain and the melting of the snowpack caused by warm temperatures is expected to conspire to cause flooding.
Christmas Day will be a rainy, wet and foggy one with temperatures expected to rise into the upper 50s in the late morning before tapering off into the 40s at sunset and 20s at night, said Ingrid Amberger, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albany.
Flooding and strong winds, however, are likely.
The Schoharie Creek, the Hoosic River in northern Rensselaer County and the Mettawee River in Washington County are all expected to flood,
with major flooding likely along the Mettawee, the weather service reported. The downpours are likely to cause street flooding throughout the region, too.
A flood watch has been placed by the National Weather Service in the region until early Friday morning, stemming from the expected 1 to 2 inches of rain expected to fall and warm temperatures that are expected to melt much of the snowpack leftover from last week’s snowstorm. The liq
uid could potentially overflow rivers, streams and draining areas.
The weather service also issued a strong wind advisory in the region, which means there could be more winds early Friday morning that reach 50 mph. The advisory also means there could potentially be widespread power outages and downed tress and power lines. The weather service warns that unsecured holiday decorations outside “will blow around.”
High winds, mixed with flooding and variable temperatures could lead to trees falling and may bring down power lines with them as happened back in October when a fierce windstorm ripped through the region, leaving thousands of customers of National Grid without power for days as tree crews made their way from door to door.
The city of Albany was urging residents to prepare for Thursday night’s severe weather by making sure catch basins were clear, removing snow around fire hydrants, keeping belongings off basement floors, clearing rain gutters and directing downspouts away from foundations.
The city said it has removed more than 87,000 cubic feet of snow from last week’s historic storm.