Damaging Wind and Lightning Strikes in Connecticut, January 18, 1999

Name: Damaging Wind and Lightning Strikes in Connecticut, January 18, 1999
Start: 1999-01-18T17:55
End: 1999-01-18T18:17
Location: Connecticut

January 18, 1999 · NWS OKX · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

Thunderstorms and heavy showers occurred ahead of an approaching cold front. High winds toppled several tree limbs onto power lines from Greenwich to Bridgeport.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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: 1
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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.

Thunderstorms and heavy showers occurred ahead of an approaching cold front. They caused a brief period of high winds and torrential rain.High winds toppled several tree limbs onto power lines from Greenwich to Bridgeport. Many power outages were reported.Lightning struck a house on Osborn Road in Naugatuck. It entered the house through a telephone line and did some damage to a computer inside. Lightning also struck a house at 64 Keefe Street in Waterbury. A 42 year old man in the garage suffered second-degree burns on his hands. The lightning left a burn mark on the back of the house.Torrential rain caused minor flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas that included streets and basements.

The radar

The Brookhaven radar (KOKX), 67 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:54 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Fairfield

When: January 18, 5:55 PM EST
Where: Fairfield County, Greenwich to Bridgeport
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.020, -73.630

Lightning, New Haven

When: January 18, 6:15 PM EST
Where: New Haven County, Naugatuck
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 41.362, -72.844 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, New Haven

When: January 18, 6:17 PM EST
Where: New Haven County, Waterbury
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 41.362, -72.844 (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

Every storm in Connecticut in 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history Warnings in Connecticut, January 1999

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: 5696284, 5696285, 5696286.