Connecticut, 1998

Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Connecticut, August 25 to 26, 1998

August 25 to 26, 1998 · NWS OKX · 5 events in 2 counties and zones

High winds downed trees that caused power lines to fall in front of Newtown High School. High winds also downed trees in Hamden.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$90,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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 an area of thunderstorms moved east to northeast across the region, they produced high winds, frequent lightning, and heavy rain.High winds downed trees that caused power lines to fall in front of Newtown High School. They also downed several trees on Sherman Street in Sandy Hook.High winds also downed trees in Hamden. As one tree fell on Thorton Street, it crushed a car.Thunderstorms produced lightning that struck and set ablaze:o the roof and attic of a house in Woodbridge. The extent of damage was unknown.o a house under construction at 84 Great Hill Road in Seymour. Fire totally damaged this house.o a garage at 164 Rensselaer Ave. in the Shippan Section of Stamford. The garage was extensively damaged.

The radar

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

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Event by event

3 lightning, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fairfield

When
August 25, 11:30 PM EST to 11:35 PM EST
Where
Fairfield County, Newtown to Sandy Hook
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.420, -73.320

Lightning, New Haven

When
August 25, 11:45 PM EST
Where
New Haven County, Hamden
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.362, -72.844 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, New Haven

When
August 26, 12:00 AM EST
Where
New Haven County, Hamden
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.380, -72.900

Lightning, New Haven

When
August 26, 3:00 AM EST
Where
New Haven County, Seymour
Property damage
$90,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.362, -72.844 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Fairfield

When
August 26, 6:45 PM EST
Where
Fairfield County, Stamford
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.326, -73.447 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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: 5661443, 5661445, 5661444, 5661446, 5661447.