Connecticut, 1998

Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Connecticut, May 29, 1998

May 29, 1998 · NWS OKX · 4 events in 2 counties and zones

Severe thunderstorms produced high winds that downed trees onto power lines at (and in between) the locations listed above. High winds downed a tree on a car that was moving on Long Ridge Road in Stamford.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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.

With a warm, moist, and unstable airmass in place, lines of thunderstorms (some severe) moved southeast across the region ahead of an approaching cold front.Severe thunderstorms produced high winds that downed trees onto power lines at (and in between) the locations listed above. High winds downed a tree on a car that was moving on Long Ridge Road in Stamford. Luckily, the passengers suffered only minor injuries.Thunderstorms also produced frequent and vivid lightning strikes. Lightning struck the north tower of an apartment building on the corner of Washington Blvd. and North Street in Stamford, sending about a dozen bricks crashing down on four cars. Although no one was injured, the cars were heavily damaged.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fairfield

When
May 29, 5:25 PM EST
Where
Fairfield County, Danbury
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.380, -73.470

Thunderstorm Wind, New Haven

When
May 29, 5:45 PM EST
Where
New Haven County, Middlebury to Wolcott
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.520, -73.120

Thunderstorm Wind, Fairfield

When
May 29, 6:05 PM EST
Where
Fairfield County, North Greenwich to North Stamford
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.100, -73.700

Lightning, Fairfield

When
May 29, 6:05 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, May 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: 5659740, 5659741, 5659742, 5659743.