000
NOUS41 KOKX 081927
PNSOKX
CTZ005>012-NJZ002>006-011-NYZ067>081-090300-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY
330 PM EDT FRI AUG 8 2008

...DAMAGE IN EASTERN STRATFORD AND SOUTHWESTERN MILFORD CONNECTICUT
ON THURSDAY AUGUST 7TH AROUND 6:30 PM HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS
STRAIGHT LINE WIND DAMAGE BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...

THIS CLASSIFICATION IS BASED ON AN ASSESSMENT OF INFORMATION FROM
LOCAL FIRE OFFICIALS...THE FAA CONTRACT FLIGHT CONTROLLER AT
SIKORSKY AIRPORT...VOLUNTEER WEATHER OBSERVERS AND OTHER REPORTS
THAT INCLUDED A SURVEY OF THE DAMAGE BY TV STATION WTNH
METEOROLOGIST.

WHILE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED STRONG ROTATION AND EYE WITNESS REPORTS
CONFIRMED THIS...ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE DAMAGING WINDS WERE
FROM THE SAME DIRECTION...NORTH NORTHWEST. IN ADDITION...THE DAMAGE
WAS BROAD IN NATURE AND NOT CONFINED TO A NARROW PATH.

WHILE WINDS WERE MEASURED AT SIKORSKY AIRPORT AT 51 MPH BY THE
AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM...BACK UP EQUIPMENT REPORTED WIND
GUSTS UP TO 70 MPH AS THE TOWER WAS BEING EVACUATED. OBSERVED DAMAGE
IS CONSISTENT WITH WINDS NEAR HURRICANE FORCE (75 MPH).

NOTE THAT THE SAME THUNDERSTORM DID PRODUCE A WATERSPOUT AS IT MOVED
OUT OVER LONG ISLAND SOUND.

THE SAME STORM ALSO MOVED ONTO THE NORTH FORK OF LONG ISLAND THAT
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING FOR TORNADIC
DAMAGE.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREATLY APPRECIATED THE COOPERATION OF
LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS AS WELL AS THE COOPERATION OF THE LOCAL
MEDIA.

$$