What was the most devastating MICROBURST in the recorded weather history of America? Where and when?

Question

What was the most devastating MICROBURST in the recorded weather history of America? Where and when?

Answer 1

Microbursts:

July 15, 1995 - Watertown (city), New York, and surrounding areas, suffered severe wind and water damage in the early AM hours. This storm was bizarre in that it threw large objects several feet while small items were left untouched.

August 14, 1996 - Runyan calls this the costliest storm in Arizona history. A severe thunderstorm and its accompanying dry microburst hit the northwest portion of the Phoenix metro area – ripping off tile roofs and causing $160 million in damage. An Arizona record wind gust of 115 miles per hour is recorded at the Deer Valley Airport. A few locations had to go without power for several days.

A microburst squall with windspeeds of 80 miles per hour is responsible for capsizing and sinking the Pride of Baltimore in May 1986 in the Caribbean, about 250 miles north of Puerto Rico. The ship took the lives of her captain and three of her other 11 crew members.

A particularly violent microburst is a possible alternative explanation to the 1961 sinking of the American school brigantine Albatross. The ship's captain Dr. Christopher Sheldon claimed that the ship was hit by a white squall on the voyage from Progreso, Yucatán, to Nassau in the Bahamas.

A microburst cost the New Jersey suburban towns of Bloomfield, Cedar Grove Montclair, and Verona a combined total of a little less than $1 million in damages when a storm passed through the area on July 18, 2006[1][2]

A microburst moved through northern and western Utah during the late afternoon and evening hours on June 5, 1995. Some of the higher reported wind gusts were: Tremonton 95 mph, Highland and American Fork 90 mph, Pleasant Grove 88 mph, and north Orem 86 mph. According to data received from the Western Insurance Information Service, damage estimates totaled $15 million.

In September 1998, a microburst hit the city of Syracuse, New York. Syracuse University was closed for this first time in over a decade because of the destruction.

In 2003, a microburst hit the city of Rockford, Illinois. Over 10,000 trees were destroyed and the city suffered over 1 million dollars in damages.

On May 31, 2002, a microburst struck the suburban town of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas, also hitting Kennywood Park. The high winds caused the pavilion of one of one of the park's oldest ride, "The Whip," to collapse, killing one woman and injuring at least 54 others, many of which were children. Damage consisted of flooding, trees and wires down, mudslides, and several damaged buildings.

On July 22, 2003 at approximately 8:30 PM, a microburst caused damaged to Bernards Township (specifically the Basking Ridge section of the township) and extended into neighboring Long Hill Township, NJ. The damage estimates were between $1 million and $2 million. The damage extended 3 miles and damaged 50 homes, 35 vehicles, and took down hundreds of trees in the area. Trees as large as 10 feet in diameter were ripped from the ground. More than dozens of roads in the area were closed including Exit 36 of Interstate 78. Power was not restored to some area homes until two days later. Some residents in the center of the wind burst described the sounds coming from the outdoors as if "the sky was falling."

On March 12, 2006 at approximately 8:10 AM, a severe microburst with winds varying from 70 to 90 mph damaged large portions of Lawrence, Kansas. Reported damage included downed power lines, stop lights and trees, overturned semi-trailers, collapsed farm silos and damage to roofs. Seventy buildings on the University of Kansas campus reported damage. In total, over $8 million in damages was estimated.[3]

On August 2, 2006 a microburst damaged Wah-Tut-Ca Scout Reservation in Northwood, New Hampshire. The microburst crushed one building (the camp's trading post) to the ground, damaged roofs of two other buildings, destroyed nine vehicles and knocked down 30 to 40 trees, some of which were 25-30 inches in diameter. Two Boy Scouts were injured during the event, although their injuries were not serious.

On August 9, 2007 a microburst with winds of 85 mph affected the city of Salem, Ohio. The roofs of two gas stations were damaged. One of the gas stations, which had only been open for 5 weeks, had portions of its roof torn off, which subsequently damaged cars as it was blown down the street. Windows in cars and at the Giant Eagle grocery store were broken. Many other businesses reported damage.[4]

On September 9, 2007 a severe microburst hit the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) in North Adams, Massachusetts. Many trees came down and the roofs of several town-house style dorms were damaged. The National Weather Service in Albany, New York estimated that there were straight-line winds with gusts of 110 miles per hour. There were no injuries reported.[5]

On October 29, 2007 a severe microburst hit the Australian town of Gayndah in Queensland. Roofs were lifted off at least 5 houses and many trees were blown down. Recorded gusts at the Gayndah weather station reached 180kmh (110mph) and the town received 70mm of rain within 30 minutes.[6]

On January 9, 2008 A Microburst hit the town of Webster, New York causing severe damage and winds reaching 80mph. Over 100 hundred trees were knocked down or snapped in half within a time period less than 30 seconds in just a small part of the town. Repair costs could reach $500,000.

I got all of these from wikipedia- search word Microbursts- under Notable Microbursts.

Good luck!!!

Answer 2

I would say August 2, 1985, A strong thunderstorm developed near the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Texas.  It produced a strong micro-burst that brought down Delta flight 191 as it making an approach to land.

The plane sheared off the top of a passing car, killing the driver, then plowed into the ground, bursting into flames as it bounced and broke apart. Of 164 passengers and crew members aboard Flight 191, only 31 survived the crash.

http://www.airdisaster.com/special/speci...

http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/img/07-0...