Connecticut, 1997

High Wind in Connecticut, March 6, 1997

March 6, 1997 · NWS OKX · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

As a large and intense low pressure system moved from Kentucky east-northeast just north of New York City and across Eastern Massachusetts, it caused high winds. Winds gusted over 60 MPH at many locations.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
1
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS OKX wrote it up.

As a large and intense low pressure system moved from Kentucky east-northeast just north of New York City and across Eastern Massachusetts, it caused high winds. Winds gusted over 60 MPH at many locations. They knocked down trees and power lines on houses and streets.In Wilton of Fairfield County, a person was injured when high winds knocked down a tree on a car.Here are selected highest wind gusts for:Fairfield County: 61 MPH at both Bridgeport and Danbury.New Haven County: 76 MPH at Oxford and 60 MPH at Meriden.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Northern New Haven

When
March 6, 9:05 AM EST to 1:51 PM EST
Where
Northern New Haven forecast zone
Measured
66 kt (76 mph)
Coordinates
41.443, -72.965 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Northern Fairfield

When
March 6, 12:04 PM EST to 2:53 PM EST
Where
Northern Fairfield forecast zone
Measured
53 kt (61 mph)
Coordinates
41.285, -73.339 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southern Fairfield

When
March 6, 12:24 PM EST
Where
Southern Fairfield forecast zone
Measured
53 kt (61 mph)
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
41.285, -73.339 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Northern Middlesex

When
March 6, 1:00 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where
Northern Middlesex forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
41.451, -72.508 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southern Middlesex

When
March 6, 1:00 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Middlesex forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
41.451, -72.508 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southern New Haven

When
March 6, 1:11 PM EST to 2:11 PM EST
Where
Southern New Haven forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
41.443, -72.965 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southern New London

When
March 6, 1:21 PM EST
Where
Southern New London forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
41.504, -72.101 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Northern New London

When
March 6, 2:29 PM EST
Where
Northern New London forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
41.504, -72.101 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Connecticut in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Connecticut, March 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5610930, 5610928, 5610932, 5610929, 5610933, 5610934, 5610935, 5610931.