BINGHAMTON (AP) — More than 40,000 utility customers are without power after powerful thunderstorms packing high winds rolled across upstate New York.
NYSEG reports half of its 34,000 outages Tuesday morning are located in the Binghamton area, where Broome County officials have declared a state of emergency after trees and utility poles were toppled by high winds during Monday night's storms. Some 40 roads in the area are closed because of fallen trees or poles.
A few thousand other homes and businesses in the Southern Tier and eastern New York remain without power.
The National Weather Service says it will investigate whether a tornado touched down in neighboring Chenango and Otsego counties Monday evening. More than 6,700 utility customers in Chenango County are waiting to have power restored.
No injuries have been reported from the storms.
STATEMENT FROM BROOME COUNTY EXECUTIVE: The State of Emergency in Broome County remains in effect. This is not a travel ban. In general, use extreme caution with travel, anticipate downed power lines and storm debris across or on roadways.
As of 6:00 this morning there are over 17,000 power outages and 40 road closures. Crews from NYSDOT, Broome County DPW, Broome County Emergency Services and NYSEG have worked throughout the night and will continue working until power is restored and every road is open.
All Schools are open. Windsor School District is on a two hour delay. All Broome County Parks will have a delayed opening. Please report any downed powerlines to NYSEG at 1-800-572-1131.