Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Connecticut, June 30, 1998

Two rounds of thunderstorms affected the area.During the morning, thunderstorms produced frequent lightning and heavy rain. Lightning struck:o a house at 109 Celetano Drive in the Ridge Subdivision of Naugatuck. Lightning struck the side of the house and damaged a bedroom wall.o a house on Saybrook Road in Middletown.Heavy rain caused the Quinnipiac River at Wallingford to rise above its' flood stage from June 30th at 2:20 pm EST until July 1st at 12:35 pm EST. The crest stage of 7.60 feet occurred at midnight and was 0.60 feet above flood stage. During the afternoon and evening, severe thunderstorms produced high winds including 3 weak tornadoes, large hail, and frequent lightning as they moved northeast across the area.In New Haven County, high winds downed many trees in New Haven, Guilford, and Branford. Some trees fell into a house in New Haven. Lightning struck and damaged the bell tower of the Mary Taylor United Methodist Church in Milford.In Middlesex County, two weak tornadoes were confirmed by NWS Staff. A funnel cloud was observed from North Branford to Montville. The funnel cloud touched down briefly in Chatfield Hollow State Park near Killingworth then lifted briefly before touching down again in Chester near the intersection of Spring and Prospect Streets. Damage consisted primarily of downed trees and power lines. High winds downed other trees across the county.In New London County, an F1 tornado was confirmed by the NWS at the intersection of Day Hill Road and Rte. 148 in Lyme. This touch down area is in line with the F1 tornado in Chatfield State Park in Killingworth and the F0 tornado in Chester of Middlesex County. Tree tops were twisted near Ferry Road in Hadlyme. Near the intersection of Day Hill Road and Rte. 148, the trees were twisted off a few feet from the ground. This damage pattern continued to the east-northeast through a field to just near Rte. 82. Damage consisted primarily of downed trees and power lines.