Windy day in Niagara Region

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The post-Patricia wind continued to whip the Niagara Peninsula. Gusts were reaching up to 90 kilometres an hour and the strength snapped tree limbs and brought down hydro wires.

On the shore of Lake Erie, it was a challenge just staying on your feet. In Crystal Beach, the gusts were 90 kilometres an hour. The waves eight feet high.

“They’re kind of crazy as you can see they’re the best we could get.” John Mctavish and Stephen Carlson drove down from Toronto and Hamilton for these waves. “You have maybe a minute or two to catch a wave, and you’re pushed into shore.”

A hydro pole in Fort Erie was smoldering on the inside when a huge wind gust snapped it in half. The pole was still smoking hours later. Power was knocked out to nearly 18 hundred customers, businesses were in the dark and signs damaged and knocked off kilter. Crews were dealing with wind damage all along the eastern end of Lake Erie from Fort Erie to Wainfleet.

Power lines were downed by tree limbs. Between snapped branches and overflowing ditches cleanup crews had their hands full. They’re warning before this wind storm moves out there could be even more damage. When the power goes out, some residents will be looking to use a generator for power. “We just ask anyone that has a generator that they make sure they fuel it outside and that it’s running outside” Says Fort Erie Fire Chief Larry Coplen