Crews were stationed near the state Thruway in preparation for outages from the storm.

For the second consecutive weekend, National Grid has increased staffing, extended evening and overnight work shifts and is closely monitoring weather forecasts that include wind gusts of up to 70 mph and heavy rainfall across portions of upstate New York today into Sunday.

Areas along the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are expected to experience the strongest wind gusts. More than 2,500 line, service, tree, damage assessment and public safety workers are ready to respond to damage that may occur.

To prepare for the storm, the company activated its comprehensive emergency response plan, including:

• Calling in outside resources and mobilizing field and tree crews.

• Pre-staging crews and materials in areas anticipated to be most severely impacted.

• Proactively reaching out to elected, municipal and emergency management officials to keep them updated on our preparations and provide safety information.

• Reaching out directly to customers through traditional and social media, email and texts and on our website to provide safety information and to urge them to be prepared.

• Conducting outbound calls to life support and critical facility customers to ensure they are prepared.

In addition, on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., the company will distribute dry ice and bottled water at targeted locations expected to be hardest hit by the storm, including the Murphy Training Center at 665 Brigham Road in Dunkirk.

In addition state Gov. Kathy Hochul announced deployed emergency response assets from numerous state agencies as high wind warnings were issued for many counties across the Western New York, Finger Lakes and North Country regions until late Saturday evening.

Hochul also announced the state’s utilities have mobilized internal, contract and external contract and mutual assistance resources in preparation for this weekend’s weather event.

“Western New York, the Finger Lakes and North County regions should be prepared for extreme weather moving across the state later today, including strong winds and damaging floods,” Governor Hochul said. “The state’s Emergency Operations Center is monitoring the weather and our response agencies stand ready to assist county partners and utility crews as needed. Use this time now to secure items outside of your home from the wind and have the necessary supplies on hand in case of a power outage.”