Powerful winds topple tree onto Buffalo home, with family inside

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Winter weather arrived in Western New York on Wednesday night, when a tree landed on top of a City of Buffalo home.

Powerful winds were recorded across the region. In one instance, it knocked a down a tree that fell into a Normal Avenue home.

The family living there said they were stuck inside the house for a moment, but they were eventually able to get out through their back door to safety.

RELATED: Lake Effect Snow Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories for most of WNY

According to damage reports from the National Weather Service, several trees and wires were down across the City of Buffalo — including on Norfolk Avenue and Saint Louis Avenue.

Temperatures were expected to drop dramatically into Wednesday night and Thanksgiving and leading to lake effect snow developing. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph were expected to produce blowing and drifting snow as well and further reduce visibilities at times.

The National Weather Service issued a Lake Effect Snow Warning for Southern Erie, Wyoming, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties from 1 a.m. Thursday until 1 a.m. Saturday. 

The National Weather Service also issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Niagara and Orleans counties from 7 p.m. Wednesday until 7 a.m. Thursday.

A Winter Weather Advisory was issued for northern Erie and Genesee counties from 9 p.m. Wednesday until 1 p.m. Thursday.

The City of Buffalo on Wednesday afternoon announced that it had closed Tifft Street Pier, Bird Island Pier, and Erie Basin Marina due to the risk of high winds.