That BIG Connecticut Storm of July 16th

[Dan Nichols]

I'm not talking about the Wethersfield tornado of June 26, although anyone is welcome to comment on what they saw of that storm as well -- tornado or no.

But for now, I invite any Connecticut, or Northeast resident (or visitor) to give me your impressions of the massive (non-tornadic) thunderstorm that occurred on the evening of Thursday, July 16th, from about 8 to 10 PM. Fearing that the storms might miss Manchester (CT) -- many do -- I saw it on Route 5, on the E. Hartford / So. Windsor border, outdoors at a shopping mall. The frequency of the lightning was most impressive, and after a slow start, the rains really came in with a such lashing ferocity that I have not witnessed in years. It had spread through a major part of the state, but there might be, as often happens, locales that did not see very much. To my surprise (and regrets for not being nearer home), I later learned that parts of Manchester were a major hit area, though possibly not my particular part.

So let me hear your stories: where you saw it, what you got, and what you thought of it........

 

[Dave Kaplow]

Dan, are you sure you have the date right? I remember the 16th because a tornado touched down in VT very near where close relatives of mine live. I remember seeing the isolated supercell up there and calling my mom to make sure she was aware of the tornado warning that was on it (she wasn't, and the warning verified so it's good I called). In CT, though, I'm pretty sure all the severe weather was confined to the extreme Northwestern part of the state. The storm reports from that day seems to confirm this. I remember radar showed a cell with pretty good rotation up towards Litchfield but it crapped out. I didn't think anything severe made it to the Hartford area, but I could be mistaken. I know we got basically nothing here in New Haven on that day.

Now, the storm that hit a few weeks later on the 31st I find to be much more interesting. At least 2, possibly 3 (the reports are confusing) tornadoes have been confirmed in my area that day. I saw the cell that produced the tubes shortly after the Shelton tornado and immediately before - must have been by just minutes - the Madison tornado touched down. I was in Guilford and I saw the area of rotation go right overhead, but I was trapped on I-95 between exits in heavy traffic and unable to chase the fast moving cell. What I found really interesting was the winds right behind the storm, there were low-level winds just screaming out of the Northwest like I've never seen before. I was aware that the winds that day were actually backing with height - not usually a good thing for severe - but the intensity of that Northwesterly LLJ really caught me by surprise. You could actually see those winds pushing right up against the back side of the meso, and it's my contention that the low level winds behind the line that day actually functioned somewhat like an RFD, tightening the circulation and helping the cell drop at least 2 unexpected and unwarned tornadoes. (Sorry for the hijack but the events of July 31st really interest me.)

 

[Dan Nichols]

Yes, it was the 16th -- a Thursday evening anyway. Weathermen kept predicting storms would "die out" as they approached the Conn. River Valley, and I might've gone more West. But they did NOT!! Manchester was one of hardest hit -- a fluke, since it seldom ever is. Interesting to hear about the VT tornado that day.

The 31st was a disappointment here in central CT -- mostly rain for a period. It would've been much too far to get to, as while the main line was moving eastward, the "Red", within it, kept on retreating southward.

 

[Scott Nelson]

Dan:

I try to list most of New England's " severe" storms over on the New England Tornado Chasers social network page. Was this ever T warned? I don't recall this particular event.
Scott

 

[Dan Nichols]

Don't think this was ever T-warned, but the Wethersfield event (June 26) as well as the Shelton event (July 31st) WERE. But the July 16th was nonetheless spectacular.

 

[Stephen Barabas]

Yep. There was an event and there were tons of hail reports on this date. I archived radar and VIL from July 16th. But mainly on one storm that hit up in Salisbury CT.