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Region braces for tornadoes, extreme weather
Heat forces school dismissals, fuels twister fears

By DAVID FILKINS, Staff writer  
Last updated: 12:53 p.m., Tuesday, June 10, 2008

ALBANY -- The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for all Capital Region counties through 6 p.m.
     
Schools around the region are dismissing early because of the oppressive heat and humidity.
A cold front packing the potential for tornadoes, sheer wind and hail could be at the western edge of the Capital Region by noon.
According to meteorologist Vasil Koleci, the three keys for severe weather -- heat, moisture and lift -- are present today.
"The atmosphere is pretty unstable," he said.
Koleci said the sunshine should begin transitioning into darkness around noon in counties west of Albany. When that happens, "You really need to get inside," he said. "Get in a basement with a weather radio if you have one."
A major power outage in southern Saratoga County forced the closure of the Mechanicville City School District. The oppressive heat forced early dismissal at a number of other region school district.
Check the school closings list.
The Mechanicville district made the announcement on its Web site, blaming a power failure for the decision.
The problem in Mechanicville comes as New York State Electric and Gas confronts outages around southern Saratoga County and northern Rensselaer County.
Elsewhere National Grid crews are working to bring back service in small pockets scattered around the region.
Schenectady Christian School's headmaster John Bishop said he decided to dismiss the kindergarten-through-12th grade school because the third day straight of oppressive heat was too much for the 285 students in the non air-conditioned building.
Popsicles were passed around yesterday to help stave off the heat. But that wasn't going to be enough today, Bishop said.
"We're stacked with heavier academic courses in the morning anyway," Bishop said.
The Schenectady city school district, which provides busing to the private school, agreed to take Christian School students home early.
Bishop said it's the first time in his 10-year tenure that the school has dismissed early because heat.
Meanwhile, temperatures in the Capital Region are expected to near triple digits today for the fourth consecutive day before the weather changes.
"It's going to be a crazy day," said National Weather Service meteorologist Kimberly Sutkevich, who said the region will have its first heat wave of the year by topping 90 degrees today. "There is a lot of energy in the atmosphere and it's been waiting to pop."
Sutkevich said Wednesday should bring relief in the form of bearable humidity and a high temperature of 84.