Syracuse, N.Y. -- The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for Western New York Monday in advance of a powerful storm that could cause widespread power outages.

“This once in a 20 to 30 year storm will have the potential to generate damaging winds of 60 to 70 mph for parts of Western New York Monday afternoon and night,” the weather service said. The highest winds will blow over and near lakes Erie and Ontario, bringing the greatest damage to the areas of Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Rochester and Watertown.

The Buffalo weather service offered unusually strong warnings ahead of the storm.

“This will be a dangerous situation,” the office said. “Very strong winds will result in numerous downed trees and power lines. EXTENSIVE power outages and property damage are expected.”

To the east, in the Finger Lakes and Central New York, winds are expected to be lower but still strong enough to cause scattered power outages. The weather service has issued hazardous weather alerts for those areas. In Central New York, wind gusts could reach 55 mph on Monday afternoon, which could knock down branches and power lines.

The storm will develop as a strong low pressure system makes a sharp left turn out of the Great Plains and passes directly over Michigan. On the west side will be cold air and heavy snow; Michigan’s Upper Peninsula could see a foot.

On our side of that system, though, a warm front will push temperatures on Monday into the 60s and even low 70s. That’s about 10 degrees warmer than normal.

A strong low pressure system will turn sharply out of the Great Plains and move over Michigan this weekend into Sunday. Heavy snow will fall to the west; Upstate New York will see damaging winds and about a half inch of rain.

Most of Upstate is likely to get a half inch of rain from the storm, but the Catskills and Hudson Valley could see nearly 2 inches. That could cause some minor flooding, the weather service said.

The weather service has issued a lakeshore flood watch for Niagara, Erie, Chautauqua, Oswego and Jefferson counties, where the wind could drive water onto shore. Lake levels are higher than normal for this time of year.

“The combination of high lake levels and significant wave action may result in lakeshore flooding along the immediate lakeshore, especially in bays, inlets, harbors, and other low lying areas along the shoreline,” the watch said. “Shoreline erosion is also possible.”

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