Buffalo, NY Under High Wind Warning

Northern and Western portions of New York are under a high wind warning, including Buffalo, NY. It does appear high winds will be coming off the Great Lakes, pushing wind gusts to as much as 55 MPH as shown in the National Weather Service forecast for tomorrow.

NWS Forecast for Buffalo, NY

Since leaves remain on the trees in Buffalo, concern is rising as these leaves will catch the wind and increase the potential for downing trees which may in turn down power lines. Leaves work like sailboat sails: The sails catch the wind and go forward. Leaves are mini-sails and also catch the wind. With a lot of leaves, these mini-sails will catch the wind and put pressure on the tree to collapse, while a bare tree likely would hold up as there would be no leaves.
Below is the NWS-issued forecast graphics for the region valid for tomorrow at 5 PM EDT.

Notice the wind gusts reaching 48 MPH in Buffalo and 52 MPH just offshore a little ways south of Buffalo. Those are real wind gusts and are not to be messed with. If you live within a region in the High Wind Warning, be conscious of trees around your house that may collapse. Also be aware of power lines that may affect you and/or your property.
If you see a downed power line, do not touch it. Call your local authorities and stay away from the power line. Just because it is down certainly does not mean it is dead. You may electrocute yourself by coming in contact with a downed live power line.