We are used to the usual snow, but not even Buffalo is immune to hurricane-strength winds that we've seen throughout the area today.
Power lines came down and left tens of thousands without power, tractor-trailers toppled over, Lake Erie rising several feet above normal and many trees tumbling down. We've rounded up the biggest weather stories and tweets of the day, in case you missed it.
POWER'S OUT
Down power lines have resulted in over 26,000 residents without power. National Grid said in a statement that they have "more than 1,700 line, service and tree workers on alert including additional support from 240 contractors from as far away as Indiana," enlisted to help the power get back on.
National Grid warns that down power lines may still be live.
Neither company can say when power will be back on, but NYSEG expects some residences to still be out of power overnight and tomorrow.
TREES CRUSH CARS AND HOUSES
Danny Spewak found Kristie near Main Street in Buffalo, whose car's back windows were smashed by a tree, along with another car in the parking lot.
"Usually I do eat lunch in my car, so I'm glad I wasn't at lunch yet because that would have been a real bummer," Kristie said.
Kristie's car wasn't the only property damaged today.
Among the photos people sent to us were trees fallen on houses, porches, fences, sheds and laying across roads.
TRACTOR TRAILERS TOPPLE OVER
A tractor-trailer rolled over on the ramp from I-90 West to the I-290 West around 10:18 a.m Wednesday morning. At least one injury was reported.
We also received photos of a rollover near Darien Lake
FULL STORY: Crews on scene of tractor-trailer rollover
NF WAREHOUSE WALL DOWN
Wind took down a brick warehouse wall in Niagara Falls near Whirlpool Avenue and Spruce Street.
WATER RISES IN LAKE ERIE
Joshua Robinson braved the wind and lake spray this afternoon to show Lake Erie's rising and racing water. Lake Erie's water levels are currently five to eight feet higher than normal.
Ice has been pushed right up to the shore in the Niagara River and is moving briskly.
CITY OF GOOD NEIGHBORS
In Clarence, a group of people pulled over and helped clear a large fallen tree from the road, to help "keep traffic moving."
WHEN WILL THIS END?
The answer is after midnight, Thursday morning. High wind warnings will continue through 11 p.m. Wednesday night, lakeshore flood watches and flash flood watches will remain until 8 p.m.
Thursday will be breezy, cold and sunny.
WIND RUINS HAIR
Perhaps the most pressing issue of the day lies in all the bad hair days caused by the wind, including our very own Patrick Hammer's.
