Severe thunderstorms developed in a highly unstable airmass. The thunderstorms produced very high winds and rainfall rates of over 2 inches per hour.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS OKX wrote it up.
Severe thunderstorms developed in a highly unstable airmass. The thunderstorms produced very high winds and rainfall rates of over 2 inches per hour.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS New York, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 14, 1:40 PM EST, 55 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY
240 PM EDT SUN AUG 14 2005
.NEAR TERM (THROUGH MONDAY)...AFTERNOON PACKAGE WILL GO OUT EARLIER
THAN USUAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 720. SOME CELLS HAVE
ALREADY POPPED UP NORTH AND WEST OF NYC AS EXPECTED...AND THESE
SHOULD INCREASE IN COVERAGE/INTENSITY AS THE AFTERNOON WEARS ON.
AIRMASS OVER THE AREA ALREADY QUITE UNSTABLE WITH SBCAPE 4500 J/KG
AND MLCAPE 3500 J/KG NORTH AND WEST OF NYC. ENOUGH VERTICAL SHEAR
PRESENT TO PRESENT THREAT OF DAMAGING WINDS...WITH THE MAIN THREAT
FROM BOWING SEGMENTS/WET MICROBURSTS. WBZ HEIGHTS NEAR 13 KFT BUT
DECENT CAPE BETWEEN -20C AND -30 C AND DEEP LAYER SHEAR SUGGEST
LARGE HAIL COULD STILL BE A THREAT WITH THE STRONGER STORMS. MAIN
THREAT EARLY ON WILL BE NORTH AND WEST OF NYC...BUT STORMS COULD
ALSO DEVELOP AHEAD OF MAIN ACTIVITY ALONG SEA BREEZE BOUNDARIES
ACROSS FROM NYC UP INTO SOUTHWEST CT...AND ALSO ALONG THE NORTH
SHORE OF LONG ISLAND.
CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY AND THREAT OF SEVERE WX WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS
EVENING...THEN TAPER OFF LATE THIS EVENING. AM NOT EXPECTING
ORGANIZED ACTIVITY TO CONTINUE BEYOND THEN AS FOCUS OF DEVELOPING
LOW LEVEL JET APPEARS TO BE TOWARD SOUTHEAST NEW ENGLAND.
SINCE COLD FRONT IS ALIGNED WITH FLOW ALOFT...HAVE SLOWED DOWN ITS
FORWARD PROGRESS FROM PREVIOUS FORECAST. NAM HAS HAD A BETTER HANDLE
ON THIS THAN THE GFS...BUT 12Z GFS IS AT LEAST TRENDING TOWARD
SLOWER FROPA. THIS WILL AFFECT MAINLY WIND AND DEWPOINT
FORECAST...KEEPING SW FLOW AND 70+ DEWPOINTS IN A LITTLE LONGER
THROUGH AT LEAST MON MORNING. CHC POPS REMAIN IN THE FCST MAINLY
THROUGH MON MORNING...THEN DRIER NORTHERLY FLOW STARTS TO TAKE HOLD
MON AFTERNOON AS FRONT SINKS FARTHER SOUTH AND HIGH PRESSURE
BUILDS IN.
&&
.SHORT TERM (MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY)...FAIR WX WITH NEAR
NORMAL TEMPS EXPECTED AS HIGH PRES RIDGE SETTLES OVERHEAD. THIS WILL
KEEP WAVE OF LOW PRES FROM BRINGING PRECIP TO THE AREA...THOUGH
GRIDS DO DEPICT MORE CLOUD COVER. WED COULD END UP BEING WARMER THAN
FORECAST AS H8 TEMPS RECOVER TO +14C...HAVE COMPROMISED BETWEEN
COOLER PREVIOUS FORECAST AND MEX+2 FOR NOW. &&
.LONG TERM (WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY)...WITH CONCENTRATION ON
NEAR TERM HEAT/SEVERE WX HAZARDS HAVE GONE WITH STRAIGHT HPC
GUIDANCE.
&&
.AVIATION...BIGGEST THREAT WILL BE THUNDERSTORM THREAT. EXPECT SCT
TSRA THROUGH 02Z NORTHWEST...AND 04Z ELSEWHERE WITH THE MAIN HAZARD
EXPECTED TO BE WINDS. THE STRONGEST STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE...AND
MOST STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 35 KTS.
ALSO EXPECT FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES INCLUDING CG STRIKES.
OTHERWISE...WILL SEE LOW END VFR OR MVFR VSBY DUE TO HAZE WITH
POTENTIAL DROPS TO IFR IN HEAVY RAIN.
WIND SHIFT WILL SLOWLY OCCUR FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST
OVERNIGHT...WHICH WILL USHER IN SOME DRIER AIR. THINK WELL SEE MVFR
BR LATE OVERNIGHT BEFORE IMPROVEMENT TO VFR BETWEEN 12 AND 14Z ON
MON.
&&
.MARINE...PRESSURE GRADIENT REMAINS RELATIVELY RELAXED THROUGH THE
WEEK. SEAS WILL BE ROUGH ON THE OCEAN TO START THE WEEK...AS SWELLS
FROM TROPICAL STORM IRENE WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE LOCAL WATERS.
HOWEVER...ITS IMPACT SHOULD DECREASE AS THE WEEK PROGRESSES...AND BY
TUE EVENING...SEAS SHOULD SUBSIDE TO ONLY 2 TO 3 FT. EXPECT THE SCA
FLAG FOR ROUGH SEAS TO STAY UP THROUGH MON NIGHT.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...LOCALIZED URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING WILL BE A
THREAT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS POSSIBLE AS
HIGH PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES REMAIN IN PLACE.
&&
.OKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...SEVERE TSTM WATCH UNTIL 10 PM ALL ZONES.
NY...HEAT ADVISORY THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON...NYZ072>077.
SEVERE TSTM WATCH UNTIL 10 PM ALL ZONES.
NJ...HEAT ADVISORY THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON...NJZ003>006-011.
SEVERE TSTM WATCH UNTIL 10 PM ALL ZONES.
MARINE...SCA FOR ROUGH SEAS ON THE OCEAN...ANZ350-353-355.
&&
GOODMANHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY 321 PM EDT SUN AUG 14 2005 NJZ003>006-011-NYZ072>077-150900- BERGEN NJ-BRONX NY-EASTERN PASSAIC NJ-ESSEX NJ-HUDSON NJ- KINGS (BROOKLYN) NY-NASSAU NY-NEW YORK (MANHATTAN) NY-QUEENS NY- RICHMOND (STATEN IS.) NY-UNION NJ- 321 PM EDT SUN AUG 14 2005 UPDATED THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK... NORTHEASTERN NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT. ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 10 PM... .DAY ONE...REST OF THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 90S...AND SURFACE DEWPOINTS IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 70S. HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL RANGE FROM 105 TO 110. THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SOME WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL. URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED AND APPRECIATED. CTZ005>012-NJZ002-NYZ067>071-078>081-150900- NORTHEAST SUFFOLK NY-NORTHERN FAIRFIELD CT-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX CT- NORTHERN NEW HAVEN CT-NORTHERN NEW LONDON CT-NORTHERN WESTCHESTER NY- NORTHWEST SUFFOLK NY-ORANGE NY-PUTNAM NY-ROCKLAND NY- SOUTHEAST SUFFOLK NY-SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD CT-SOUTHERN MIDDLESEX CT- SOUTHERN NEW HAVEN CT-SOUTHERN NEW LONDON CT-SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER NY- SOUTHWEST SUFFOLK NY-WESTERN PASSAIC NJ- 321 PM EDT SUN AUG 14 2005 UPDATED THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK... NORTHEASTERN NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT. ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 10 PM... .DAY ONE...REST OF THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SOME WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL. URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED AND APPRECIATED. ANZ330-335-338-350-353-355-150900- FIRE ISLAND INLET NY TO MORICHES INLET NY OUT 20 NM- LONG ISLAND SOUND EAST OF NEW HAVEN CT/PORT JEFFERSON NY- LONG ISLAND SOUND WEST OF NEW HAVEN CT/PORT JEFFERSON NY- MORICHES INLET NY TO MONTAUK POINT NY OUT 20 NM-NEW YORK HARBOR- SANDY HOOK NJ TO FIRE ISLAND INLET NY OUT 20 NM- 321 PM EDT SUN AUG 14 2005 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK... NORTHEASTERN NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT. ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 10 PM... .DAY ONE...REST OF THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. SOME WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS OVER 35 KNOTS AND VISIBILITY BELOW 1 NM IN TORRENTIAL RAINFALL. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR ROUGH OCEAN SEAS IS IN EFFECT DUE TO SWELLS FROM TROPICAL STORM IRENE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY ROUGH SEAS DUE TO SWELLS FROM TROPICAL STORM IRENE WILL CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST MONDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED AND APPRECIATED. GOODMAN
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY 138 PM EDT SUN AUG 14 2005 CTZ005-NYZ068>070-141845- NORTHERN FAIRFIELD-NORTHERN WESTCHESTER-PUTNAM-ROCKLAND- 138 PM EDT SUN AUG 14 2005 AT 136 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM YORKTOWN HEIGHTS TO NEW CITY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH. THESE STORMS MAY PRODUCE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS AND SMALL HAIL. REYNOLDS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY 140 PM EDT SUN AUG 14 2005 NYZ067-141845- ORANGE- 140 PM EDT SUN AUG 14 2005 AT 142 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM OTISVILLE TO 11 MILES SOUTHEAST OF HAWLEY...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL BE... NEAR FINCHVILLE BY 145 PM EDT. NEAR BULLVILLE BY 220 PM EDT. NEAR PORT JERVIS BY 245 PM EDT. SMALL HAIL...TORRENTIAL RAINS AND WIND GUSTS TO AROUND 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. REYNOLDS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY 235 PM EDT SUN AUG 14 2005 CTZ005-009-141915- NORTHERN FAIRFIELD-SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD- 235 PM EDT SUN AUG 14 2005 ...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FOR FAIRFIELD COUNTY... AT 231 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR RIDGEFIELD...OR 5 MILES NORTH OF NEW CANAAN...AND MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD COUNTY...INCLUDING THE CITIES OF RIDGEFIELD...NEW CANAAN...AND GEORGETOWN...SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE WARNINGS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SHOULD SEVERE WEATHER THREATEN. SMALL HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS AROUND 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. EKSTER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY 314 PM EDT SUN AUG 14 2005 NJZ005-006-NYZ072-073-076-142015- BRONX-ESSEX-HUDSON-NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)-QUEENS- 314 PM EDT SUN AUG 14 2005 AT 310 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ORANGE...WITH ANOTHER OVER MANHATTANS UPPER EAST SIDE...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. THIS STORM NEAR ORANGE WILL BE... NEAR BLOOMFIELD BY 320 PM EDT. NEAR HARRISON BY 330 PM EDT. NEAR KEARNY BY 340 PM EDT. NEAR SECAUCUS BY 400 PM EDT. NEAR HOBOKEN BY 410 PM EDT. NEAR BATTERY PARK BY 415 PM EDT. THE STORM OVER THE UPPER EAST SIDE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE BRONX THROUGH 400 PM. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. REYNOLDS
The Brookhaven radar (KOKX), 59 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:35 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A macroburst leveled hundreds of trees in the Wilton, New Canaan, and Darien areas.
Flash flooding occurred along the Five Mile River. Under normal circumstances, the river is just a few feet wide. Rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour allowed this river to expand to several hundred feet in width. Homes and property were threatened.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Connecticut in 2005Every state in 2005This day in weather historyWarnings in Connecticut, August 2005
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: 5469265, 5469264.