Damaging Wind in Massachusetts, August 8, 1999

An isolated severe thunderstorm which caused wind damage on Long Island moved northeast, across Marthas Vineyard between 1145 am and 1230 pm, and produced several microbursts from West Tisbury to Oak Bluffs, according to a storm damage survey. The first microburst struck a small area in West Tisbury, in the vicinity of New Lane and Edgartown-West Tisbury Road. This microburst downed trees of two to four feet in diameter along a path which was 1600 feet long and 50 feet wide. Large branches were also downed. Several small pane windows were blown out in a small barn and the neighboring house, and some shingles were removed from the roof.The second, and most intense microburst struck at the corner of Ryans Way and Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road. Initially, it was only 40 to 50 feet wide, but at its most intense stretch grew to a width of approximately 1000 feet. Large trees were snapped at their bases, while other trees had large limbs snapped off. Side moulding was peeled off one home, which also had its television antenna mast snapped in half. Damage to trees and some structures associated with this microburst extended for nearly three and a half miles, ending in the vicinity of Farm Pond before exiting the east shore of Oak Bluffs.A third and isolated microburst struck Dodgers Hole Road. It produced a very intense, but isolated area of damage approximately 300 feet long by 300 feet wide. This area experienced downed and uprooted trees along with many snapped branches from 15 to 30 feet above the ground. One resident reported that a gas grill was thrown about 8 feet across the deck of his home. No structural damage occurred to the home.Estimates of the wind place the peak gusts just over 80 mph, based upon the nature of the wind damage.Some of the damage was similar to what was observed during Hurricane Bob in 1991.