Winds Knock Out Power To 40K-Plus Customers In NY State

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — More than 40,000 homes and businesses across New York state are without electricity as winds gusting to 60 mph bring down trees and power lines.

NYSEG (NYE'-sehg) reports more than 22,000 customers are without power Thursday morning, with RG&E and National Grid each reporting more than 10,000 outages. Most of RG&E's outages are in Allegan County in the Southern Tier and in the Rochester area.

The outages began Wednesday night when gusts of more than 60 mph were recorded in parts of western New York. The National Weather Service has issued high wind advisories for central and northern New York and high wind warnings for eastern New York.

Meteorologists say the strong winds will usher in a cold front that will send temperatures plummeting 30 degrees or more by the end of Thursday.