New York

High Winds Collapse New York Shack, Killing Man Making Maple Syrup

High wind warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for parts of the tri-state area on Wednesday

What to Know

  • A northern New York man died Wednesday after powerful toppled his sugar shack while he was inside making maple syrup
  • State police say Jonas Swartzentruber was pinned to the ground with debris after his outbuilding collapsed on him in Theresa
  • High wind warnings were in effect for more than a dozen tri-state counties; a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for several NJ counties

High winds collapsed a sugar shack in northern New York, killing a 36-year-old man who was making maple syrup.

State police say Jonas Swartzentruber was working in an outbuilding in the Jefferson County town of Theresa around 1 p.m. Wednesday when high winds knocked it over. He was pinned to the ground with debris.

Spring Snow Terrorizes Storm-Weary Tri-State

Police say a 15-year-old boy escaped before the shack collapsed and alerted neighbors who used jacks to lift the wreckage off the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Wind gusting to 75 mph toppled trees, flipped tractor-trailers and knocked out power to nearly 80,000 customers in western and central New York Wednesday.

High wind warnings were in effect for more than a dozen tri-state counties, with the rest of the region under wind advisories Wednesday afternoon, after yet another powerful storm system pushed through the region, Storm Team 4 said.

A 6-year-old boy was hit by a flying street sign that was blown around in New York City outside Penn Station. 

Thursday will be drier, but highs will only reach the mid to high 40s.

It warms up again on Friday to end the workweek, but Storm Team 4 says it comes with a chance of wintry mix -- again -- that may change over to rain, mainly north and west of the city. Snow showers are possible again Saturday.

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