High Wind, Queens
- When
- March 6, 7:20 AM EST to 7:58 AM EST
- Where
- Queens forecast zone
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph)
- Deaths
- 4 direct, 0 indirect
- Injuries
- 6 direct, 0 indirect
High Wind in New York, March 6, 1997
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; 13 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 5
- Injuries
- 9
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 15
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 Laurelton of Queens, a 75 foot tall maple tree fell on a small school bus carrying 10 children. Four young girls died and the other six children were injured as the tree crushed the bus.In White Plains (Westchester County), a person was killed when a tree fell on their car.In New York (Manhattan), one person was injured from flying debris while walking and another person was injured when he or she was hit by a coffee stand that blew down the street.In Dix Hills (Suffolk County), one person was seriously injured when a tree fell on a construction van.Here are selected highest wind gusts for:Queens: 60 MPH at both Kennedy Airport and Jamaica Estates.Kings: 62 MPH at Brooklyn.Long Island: 70 MPH at both Fire Island and Mt. Sinai.Lower Hudson Valley: 74 MPH at Ossining.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
15 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
High Wind, Southwest Suffolk
- When
- March 6, 7:48 AM EST to 2:45 PM EST
- Where
- Southwest Suffolk forecast zone
- Measured
- 61 kt (70 mph)
- Coordinates
- 40.941, -72.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, New York (Manhattan)
- When
- March 6, 8:00 AM EST to 10:22 AM EST
- Where
- New York (Manhattan) forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Injuries
- 2 direct, 0 indirect
- Coordinates
- 40.774, -73.970 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Rockland
- When
- March 6, 8:05 AM EST to 8:15 AM EST
- Where
- Rockland forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 41.152, -74.024 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Northern Westchester
- When
- March 6, 8:26 AM EST
- Where
- Northern Westchester forecast zone
- Measured
- 64 kt (74 mph)
- Coordinates
- 41.152, -73.753 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Southern Westchester
- When
- March 6, 8:26 AM EST
- Where
- Southern Westchester forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Coordinates
- 41.152, -73.753 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Bronx
- When
- March 6, 10:35 AM EST
- Where
- Bronx forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 40.827, -73.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Southeast Suffolk
- When
- March 6, 11:55 AM EST to 3:48 PM EST
- Where
- Southeast Suffolk forecast zone
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph)
- Coordinates
- 40.941, -72.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Putnam
- When
- March 6, 12:10 PM EST
- Where
- Putnam forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 41.427, -73.749 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Orange
- When
- March 6, 12:45 PM EST
- Where
- Orange forecast zone
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph)
- Coordinates
- 41.402, -74.306 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Richmond (Staten Is.)
- When
- March 6, 1:00 PM EST
- Where
- Richmond (Staten Is.) forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 40.583, -74.150 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Kings (Brooklyn)
- When
- March 6, 1:19 PM EST
- Where
- Kings (Brooklyn) forecast zone
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph)
- Coordinates
- 40.634, -73.950 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Nassau
- When
- March 6, 1:44 PM EST
- Where
- Nassau forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
High Wind, Northwest Suffolk
- When
- March 6, 2:00 PM EST to 4:11 PM EST
- Where
- Northwest Suffolk forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Coordinates
- 40.941, -72.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Northeast Suffolk
- When
- March 6, 2:45 PM EST to 4:11 PM EST
- Where
- Northeast Suffolk forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 40.941, -72.685 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The people who died
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Wind, Queens | 1997-03-06 | 10 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| High Wind, Queens | 1997-03-06 | 10 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| High Wind, Queens | 1997-03-06 | 12 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| High Wind, Queens | 1997-03-06 | 10 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
| High Wind, Southern Westchester | 1997-03-06 | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
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
- High Wind and Strong Wind in Pennsylvania, March 6, 1997
- High Wind in New York, March 6, 1997
- High Wind and Strong Wind in Massachusetts, March 6, 1997
- Strong Wind in Maryland, March 6, 1997
- Heavy Snow in New York, March 6, 1997
- Strong Wind in Virginia, March 6, 1997
- Strong Wind in West Virginia, March 6, 1997
- High Wind and Strong Wind in New Jersey, March 6 to 7, 1997
- Heavy Snow in Ohio, March 6, 1997
- Winter Storm in Maine, March 6, 1997
- Heavy Snow in New York, March 6, 1997
- High Wind in Connecticut, March 6, 1997
More
Every storm in New York in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in New York, 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: 5610916, 5610921, 5610922, 5610918, 5610912, 5610920, 5610908, 5610919, 5610915, 5610914, 5610917, 5610909, 5610910, 5610913, 5610911.