NOAA's National Weather Service - Binghamton, NY

Microburst /Straight Line Wind Damage/ Confirmed in Scranton in Lackawanna County Pennsylvania

Location: Scranton in Lackawanna County Pennsylvania
Date: july 29, 2011
Estimated time: 5:30 PM EDT
Estimated maximum wind speed: 75 MPH
Maximum path width: 0.25 miles
Path length: 0.8 miles
Beginning lat/lon: 41.4204n / 75.6723w
Ending lat/lon: 41.4175n / 75.6577
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 1

Summary

Severe winds associated with a microburst struct scranton in the memorial stadium area. Damage occurred to businesses along providence road to roofs, siding, windows and signs. Trees were snapped and blown down as it crossed the lackawanna river and railroad tracks. Some damage to trees and at least one business on the other side of the river on mineral avenue and capouse avenue.

Building roof, windows and siding damaged.

Roof, siding and tree damage Lackawanna River.

Below is a map showing the approximate swath of the microburst/straight line winds. You will have to zoom in quite a bit in some locations to view the information.

For reference:

A microburst is a convective downdraft with an affected outflow area of less than 2 1/2 miles wide and peak winds lasting less than 5 minutes. Microbursts may induce dangerous horizontal/vertical wind shears, which can adversely affect aircraft performance and cause property damage. Straight-line winds are generally any wind that is not associated with rotation, used mainly to differentiate them from tornadic winds.

The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to change pending final review of the event(s) and publication in National Weather Service Storm Data.

Watson