Connecticut, 1998

Damaging Winds in Connecticut, August 11, 1998

August 11, 1998 · NWS OKX · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

As a line of thunderstorms moved across Fairfield County, it produced high winds and heavy downpours. As an isolated severe thunderstorm moved southeast across Naugatuck, it produced a wet microburst that caused high winds and heavy rain.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
2
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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 line of thunderstorms moved across Fairfield County, it produced high winds and heavy downpours. High winds toppled trees that crushed a cab of a pickup truck in Scalzi Park, fell on the roof of a 3-story house at 1707 Summer Street and downed wires throughout Stamford.As an isolated severe thunderstorm moved southeast across Naugatuck, it produced a wet microburst that caused high winds and heavy rain. High winds caused about a 3/4-mile wide area of widespread damage to trees from Highland Ave. to Woodland (about 1 and 1/2 miles in length). Two people (one adult and one child) were injured when a large tree fell on and crushed their second-floor porch on High Street. The adult and child were pinned under rubble. The adult suffered from serious injuries (broken hip and arm and dislocated elbow).

The radar

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

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Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fairfield

When
August 11, 6:30 PM EST
Where
Fairfield County, Stamford
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.050, -73.530

Thunderstorm Wind, New Haven

When
August 11, 8:00 PM EST
Where
New Haven County, Naugatuck
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Injuries
2 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
41.480, -73.050

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Connecticut in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Connecticut, August 1998

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: 5660635, 5660636.