Severe weather hits the Capital Region

Tuesday’s severe weather left thousands of people without power and many people pumping the water out of their basements.

In Albany, drivers tested their luck, splashing through deep puddles on Central Avenue.

In Schenectady, however, one woman wasn't so lucky. Despite the clear signage, fire officials say she drove a full-sized pickup truck into rising water on Weaver Street.

Rescuers were able to help her out by boat. The truck, however, will stay there until the water recedes.

Over in Guilderland, Western Avenue quickly went from slick to submerged in just minutes as the water rose quicker than the drains could swallow it up.

Tuesday night shoppers were also inconvenienced by the heavy rain as crews were forced to shut down Route 20 at the entrance to Stuyvesant Plaza.

The water wasn't the only trouble: strong winds toppled this massive tree in Taghkanic and brought branches down over power lines on Victory Avenue in Schenectady.

Thousands spent the evening without power, and one family, without their truck.

As of 10 p.m. National Grid reported more than 20,000 people without power in the Capital Region.

At that time, Route 20 at Stuyvesant Plaza was still closed.

 

http://www.fox23news.com/news/local/story/Severe-weather-hits-the-Capital-Region/X80czpzQIEWRgK6HmkmGfw.cspx