High Winds on Campus: Students Battle Winds Walking to Class
Branches Down on Campus
Many areas of upstate New York were placed under a wind advisory and high wind warning earlier this week, with predicted gusts over 50 mph. The most severe effects were felt to the west of St. Lawrence County, as winds picked up speed over the Great Lakes. Accompanying the high winds were periods of intense snowfall known as snow squalls, which continued into the week even as high winds died down briefly on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center issued a snow squall warning for the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the US, advising citizens to take caution while driving and prepare for another round of high winds.
Wind events are caused by changes in pressure systems as air currents circulate through the atmosphere. In an area of low pressure, air is being warmed, causing it to rise higher in the atmosphere. This warm air cools as it rises, thus falling in another location as a high-pressure system. The rising and falling of air through the atmosphere is known as a convection current. Wind is caused by the movement of air across the pressure gradients in this current.
The first round of high winds in the North Country was due to a cold front, part of a low- pressure system, moving eastward from the Great Lakes region. The second round was due to a fast-moving, low-pressure system known as an Alberta Clipper, which brings snow, wind and low-pressure conditions from the western Canadian province through the American Midwest, and deposits wintery conditions in the Great Lakes Region. Although the greatest effects were felt in this region, Canton was not spared. Matt Serrano ’26 noted high winds on campus on Monday. “I was sitting in the student center and noticed the blinds moving as wind came through cracks between the window and the wall.” Multiple students reported being hit by flying debris from trees on campus. “It made me appreciate the power of a good gust!” said Elliot O’Mahoney ’28. Community members were also distressed by the extreme conditions. “My friggin’ door blew open halfway through [Monday] night.” noted Canton resident George Gowdy ’23. Though the wind ceased, heavy snow continued into Wednesday morning, forcing some professors to cancel class. It wasn’t all bad news, however. “I had my ROTC morning practice and two of my classes cancelled,” said Alexander Tidd ’25, “for the first time in years, I feel well-rested.”
Many areas of upstate New York were placed under a wind advisory and high wind warning earlier this week, with predicted gusts over 50 mph. The most severe effects were felt to the west of St. Lawrence County, as winds picked up speed over the Great Lakes. Accompanying the high winds were periods of intense snowfall known as snow squalls, which continued into the week even as high winds died down briefly on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center issued a snow squall warning for the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the US, advising citizens to take caution while driving and prepare for another round of high winds.
Wind events are caused by changes in pressure systems as air currents circulate through the atmosphere. In an area of low pressure, air is being warmed, causing it to rise higher in the atmosphere. This warm air cools as it rises, thus falling in another location as a high-pressure system. The rising and falling of air through the atmosphere is known as a convection current. Wind is caused by the movement of air across the pressure gradients in this current.