List of Connecticut tornadoes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of tornadoes reported in the history of the US state of Connecticut. While Connecticut is not known for tornado events, more than 100 tornadoes have affected the state in modern history, resulting in at least 48 deaths, 780 injuries, and more than $500 million in damage.[1][2]
As with most of the Northeastern United States, the number of tornadoes peaks in the summer months; specifically, July and August. They occur most commonly in Hartford County, although since 1950 Litchfield County has recorded the most tornadoes. Since reliable records have been kept, Connecticut has recorded an average of 1.3 tornadoes per year, ranked 42nd in the United States.[3] While Connecticut tornadoes are typically weak, isolated events can be violent. Three tornadoes of F4 intensity have affected the state in its history, as well as at least 27 "strong" tornadoes (F2 or greater). Outbreaks of three or more tornadoes in a single day occurred in 1876, 1878, 1973, 1989, 1998, and 2001. The year 1973 was particularly active: eight tornadoes occurred on six separate days.
This list is likely incomplete, as official records date back only to 1950 for tornadoes in the United States.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Pre–1850
- June 10, 1682: A tornado devastated forests in southern Connecticut, touching down north of Fairfield and crossing the Housatonic River, cutting through New Haven before passing out into Long Island Sound.[4]
- 1728 or 1729: A tornado passed through New Britain.[5]
- August 17, 1784: Two tornadoes struck Central Connecticut. The first injured five people while destroying more than a dozen structures in South Britain. The second injured one person while moving down a hillside west of Southington.[4]
- August 8, 1786: Twenty houses were destroyed near Woodstock. One person was killed, five were injured.[6]
- August 23, 1786: Possibly the first tornado outbreak ever in Connecticut, as many as six tornadoes did a great deal of damage in Windham County. Twenty homes, 63 barns, and 1000 acres (4 km²) of forest were destroyed. One woman was killed, and five people were injured.[4]
- August 15, 1787: The largest tornado outbreak recorded to date affected most of New England. The first in the state touched down around 1:30PM near New Britain, travelling along nearly the same path as a tornado in 1728 or 1729. This tornado was nearly as violent as the Wallingford Tornado of 1878. A mother and two of her children were killed in Wethersfield, and 10 others were injured before the tornado lifted outside of the town.[6] What may have been another tornado caused additional damage as far east as Coventry, Connecticut. Another tornado struck East Windsor, damaging several homes and barns. Yet another touched down near Killingly, moving northeast into Rhode Island and Massachusetts.[4][5]
- June 19, 1794: A tornado destroyed several structures in Milford injuring four, while a separate tornado cut through Branford. Some loss of life likely occurred from one or both tornadoes.[4]
- October 8, 1797: Six people were injured by a tornado in Ridgefield.[4]
- August 2, 1799: A tornado destroyed two houses in New London County.[4]
- June 30, 1808: One or more possible tornadoes moved from Windsor to Coventry, killing one person.[4]
- July 22, 1808: Trees and buildings were damaged from East Windsor to North Bolton, possibly by a tornado.[4]
- August 1, 1812: A tornado passed from Westchester County, New York into Greenwich.[4]
- August 13, 1817: A tornado destroyed 23 buildings in Wallingford.[4]
- June 3, 1836: A long-lived tornado tracked 30 miles (48 km) from Dutchess County, New York to Salisbury.[4]
- August 7, 1839: A possible tornado passed through an uninhabited area of present-day Wallingford.[5]
[edit] 1850–1949
- August 17, 1872: What may have been a small tornado hit Windsor Locks.[4]
- September 15, 1876: A 300 yard (274 m) wide tornado unroofed several homes in northern Bridgeport.[7]
- August 18, 1877: "Something like a tornado", described as a "whirling mass of black clouds" cut across Hartford, tearing down trees and branches.[8]
- August 9, 1878: The Wallingford Tornado of 1878. A severe tornado, likely an F4, smashed through New Haven County. Touching down just outside of Wallingford, it destroyed the north side of town. At least 29 people were killed in that town (possibly 34), the most by any tornado event in Connecticut history. The tornado continued into Durham and Killingsworth, unroofing houses.[4]
- May 29, 1880: A tornado touched down in Suffield, moving northeast and crossing the Connecticut River. It destroyed 25 buildings in Thompsonville and Enfield.[4]
- July 14, 1881: A "terrific storm" downed trees "in all directions" in Meriden, also damaging a school and several other buildings.[9]
- September 14, 1882: A tornado touched down outside of Winsted, destroying nine homes and five barns as it moved into town. Twenty people were injured, two of whom may have later died.[4]
- August 25, 1885: A tornado passed through the towns of Bloomfield and Windsor, crossing the Connecticut River before dissipating. Nearly the entire tobacco crop in the area was destroyed, at a loss in the millions of dollars. Another tornado may have struck East Hartford a few weeks earlier.[10]
- September 12, 1886: A tornado touched down outside of Ellington, destroying barns and downing trees before lifting near Burnside.[4]
- September 27, 1899: A tornado passed from Norwalk to near Ridgefield, causing damage to trees and roofs in a path 50 to 300 feet (15 to 91 m)wide. Some buildings were completely destroyed.[11]
- September 15, 1901: A damaging tornado swept through the village of Huntington around 7 PM. One man was killed when his house was torn from its foundation. Several barns were destroyed—one "completely disappeared"—and hundreds of trees were levelled on a path from modern-day Shelton to Monroe.[12][13]
- August 28, 1911: A tornado cut a three mile (five km) path through New Milford, Litchfield County, uprooting trees and damaging roofs.[14]
- June 12, 1918: A "baby tornado" (possibly a microburst) caused $50,000 in damage, mainly to roofs and windows, in New Britain, Hartford County.[15]
- August 7, 1918: A possible tornado touched down in Westbrook, causing roof damage and downing trees. A house was moved off its foundation in Fenwick.[16][17]
- September 18, 1918: A tornado cut a path 130-160 feet across from Groton, Connecticut, through Mystic, and out into Long Island Sound. Small buildings, roofs, trees and telephone poles were damaged heavily. Several people received minor injuries from flying debris[18]
- August 30, 1920: A storm with "tornado features" caused damage on a small line from eastern Hamden to Guilford. A fireworks factory was destroyed, roofs were removed from four warehouses and a house, and hundreds of trees and utility poles were toppled. One boy was killed and 33 others were injured.[19][20]
- July 26, 1937: A tornado produced F2 damage while passing just south of Terryville and just north of Bristol.[4]
- September 24, 1942: A tornado destroyed a church in Plainville and a garage in Bristol.[4]
[edit] 1950–1974
- July 13, 1950: An F2 touched down in Ridgefield around 7:30PM, tearing the roof off the high school and downing trees through the center of town. Three people were injured.[1][23]
- August 20, 1951: An F2 touched down briefly in Willington, Tolland County.[24]
- August 21, 1951: A long-tracked F2 touched down in southwestern Litchfield County, passing more than 40 miles (64 km) well into Hartford County. Another tornado, an F3 (some sources say F2), touched down in northern Middlesex County, unroofing a factory. Nine people were injured in the first tornado, with another eight injured in the second.[4][22]
- May 10, 1954: An F3 (some sources say F2) hit Windsorville at 9:30AM, destroying a house and some sheds, injuring two. Additionally, an F2 touched down in northwestern Hartford County that afternoon. [4][22]
- October 24, 1955: An F1 touched down in central Hartford County, while an F2 touched down near Waterbury.[22]
- August 8, 1956: An F0 briefly touched down in East Glastonbury, Hartford County.[25]
- June 19, 1957: An F1 touched down in central Glastonbury, Hartford County.[26]
- September 7, 1958: An F2 injured two in Willington, Tolland County.[29]
- May 12, 1959: An F2 down in northwestern Litchfield County, damaging mostly trees along a one-mile path.[22]
- May 24, 1962: An F3 tracked through northern New Haven and southern Hartford Counties. The tornado produced "near-F4 damage" in parts of Waterbury and Southington, with more than 200 buildings destroyed and another 600 damaged. One person was killed, with another 50 injured, along its 11 mile (18 km) path.[4][22]
- August 11, 1966: An F2 touched down in northern Litchfield County, passing east-northeast into Massachusetts.[22]
- July 29, 1971: An F3 (some sources say F2) touched down in Waterbury, unroofing a factory and damaging some houses. Two people were injured.[4][22]
- September 6, 1973: An F2 touched down in eastern Hartford County, damaging houses in Manchester, Vernon, and Talcottville.[4][22]
- September 18, 1973: Three tornadoes briefly touched down, an F1 in Greenwich, an F2 in southwestern Hartford county, and another F1 in southern Tolland County.[22]
[edit] 1975–1999
- June 19, 1975: An F1 tracked five miles (eight km) through central Litchfield County.[22]
- July 20, 1975: An F1 touched down near New Milford.[22]
- June 30, 1976: An F2 touched down in northern Litchfield County.[22]
- October 3, 1979: The Windsor Locks, Connecticut Tornado, an extremely destructive F4 tornado, one of the worst in Connecticut history, killed three and injured 500 in northern Hartford County. The tornado struck without warning, tearing through Bradley International Airport, destroying more than a dozen airplanes, and narrowly missing a Boeing 727 which was attempting to land. Around 100 homes were completely levelled. Most of the $200+ million in damage was done in Windsor Locks and Suffield. This was the sixth most damaging tornado in US history.[4]
- July 28, 1982: An F1 tracked through central New Haven County.[22]
- August 1, 1983: An F0 struck Middlesex County.[22]
- July 5, 1984: An F2 tracked from Bristol to Farmington, injuring one and damaging many houses and cars.[4][22]
- June 24, 1985: An F1 tracked ten miles (16 km) across central Windham County.[22]
- August 26, 1985: An F1 touched down in extreme eastern Windham County, passing into Rhode Island.[22]
- July 10, 1989: The Northeastern United States tornado outbreak of 1989 occurred. At least three tornadoes caused more than $100 million in damage in Litchfield and New Haven Counties. The first tornado, possibly a family of three tornadoes, destroyed Cathedral Pines Forest, and caused F2 damage to trees and homes in Cornwall, Milton, and Bantam, injuring four people.[4] The second tornado, also an F2, unroofed or severely damaged 50 homes and injured 70 people on a path through Watertown, Oakville, and northern Waterbury. The final tornado was one of the worst in Connecticut history, cutting a five mile (eight km) path through Hamden. An F4, it destroyed almost 400 structures, and injured 40 people. Miraculously, no one was killed by these devastating tornadoes, though a girl was killed when straight-line winds blew a tree onto her tent.
- June 29, 1990: An F0 briefly touched down in Danbury. Seven people were injured by flying glass.[6]
- July 5, 1992: An F0 struck near New Fairfield.[22]
- July 14, 1992: An F1 briefly touched down in southern Windham County.[22]
- August 4, 1992: An F0 struck central Hartford County, and an F1 struck the Long Hill section of Trumbull.[22][30]
- July 10, 1993: An F0 briefly touched down in western Windham County.[22]
- June 29, 1994: A strong microburst accompanied by an F0 struck Avon. Many trees were downed, but there was very little property damage.[31]
- May 29, 1995: An F1 tracked two miles (three km) from South Britain to Southbury around 6:20 PM. Many trees were downed, and several homes sustained minor damage.[32]
- July 23, 1995: An F0 struck the town of Prospect. A tractor-trailer was thrown 200 yards through the air, but no injuries were reported.[33]
- July 3, 1996: An F1 touched down just north of downtown Waterbury, causing damage to Wilby High School.[34]
- July 9, 1996: An F1 downed trees in Monroe.[35]
- May 31, 1998: An F1, part of a large tornado outbreak, touched down briefly near Washington.[36]
- June 30, 1998: Two F1 tornadoes touched down briefly in Killingworth and Lyme, and an F0 briefly touched down in Chester.[37]
[edit] 2000–present
- August 16, 2000: An F1 touched down in Ellington. It tossed several large trailers through the air and damaged a cow barn.[38]
- June 23, 2001: An isolated supercell produced three tornadoes in the state. The first, an F1, hit a golf course in Washington, demolishing a storage building and a tennis court, and injuring one person. The second tornado, rated an F2, touched down in Torrington near Torrington Middle School, damaging the roof and destroying bleachers and a storage shed. The final tornado, an F0, produced minor damage to the East Hartland fire station.[39][40][41]
- July 1, 2001: An F0 tracked ten miles across southern Litchfield County, touching down seven times along its path from New Milford to Roxbury. [42]
- May 31, 2002: An F1 touched down in Brookfield, followed by a brief, F0 touchdown in Southbury along Interstate 84.[43]
- June 16, 2002: An F0 touched down briefly in Lanesville. In Montville, a waterspout formed over Gardner Lake, causing F1 damage to trees, houses, and cars upon crossing onto land.[45][46]
- July 12, 2006: A tornado which produced F2 damage across the border in New York entered Greenwich at 4:01PM, producing some F1 damage on the north side of town. It may have briefly touched down a second time just north of the Merritt Parkway.[47]
- May 16, 2007: A skipping tornado, rated EF1, tracked 4–5 miles (6–8 km) from Bethel to Newtown. Widespread wind damage also affected other parts of the state.[48]
- May 28, 2007: An EF0 landspout damaged the roof of a barn in Somers, on an otherwise calm day.[49] [50]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d NCDC Storm Events. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Tornado Safety Rules Worth Reviewing Hartford Courant Online. Accessed May 13, 2008.
- ^ Connecticut Tornadoes. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Grazulis, Thomas P (1993 July). Significant Tornadoes 1680–1991. St. Johnsbury, VT: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
- ^ a b c "The hurricanes of the past", New York Times, 1878-08-13, p. 2.
- ^ a b c Tornado Project. "Worst" Tornadoes Retrieved on July 2, 2007.
- ^ "A Connecticut hurricane", New York Times, 1876-08-16, p. 5.
- ^ "Furious storm in Connecticut", New York Times, 1877-08-19, p. 7.
- ^ "Terrific storm in Connecticut", New York Times, 1881-07-15, p. 5.
- ^ "Great damage elsewhere", New York Times, 1885-08-26, p. 1.
- ^ "Tornado in Conecticut", New York Times, 1899-09-28, p. 1.
- ^ "Tornado in Connecticut", New York Times, 1901-09-17, p. 7.
- ^ "Great Electrical Storm", Bridgeport Evening Farmer, 1901-09-16, p. 1.
- ^ "Tornado hits Connecticut", New York Times, 1911-08-29, p. 2.
- ^ "BABY TORNADO CAUSES $50,000 DAMAGE IN NEW BRITAIN VISIT", Hartford Courant, 1918-06-13, p. 1.
- ^ "TORNADO WRECKS HOUSE AT FENWICK", Hartford Courant, 1918-08-10, p. 3.
- ^ "CYCLONE RAGES ALONG THE SHORE", Hartford Courant, 1918-08-09, p. 9.
- ^ "CYCLONE DAMAGES M. F. PLANT'S ESTATE", Hartford Courant, 1918-09-19, p. 1.
- ^ "One Dead, Many Hurt In North Haven Whirlwind", Hartford Courant, 1920-09-01, p. 1.
- ^ "TUESDAY'S STORM", Hartford Courant, 1920-09-02, p. 10.
- ^ "HATS, TREES, WIRES SUFFER IN STORM", Hartford Courant, 1922-07-14, p. 1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am Data from the Storm Prediction Center archives, which are accessible through SeverePlot, free software created and maintained by John Hart, lead forecaster for the SPC.
- ^ "Tornado in Ridgefield", New York Times, 1950-07-14, p. 19.
- ^ Event Record Details, 20 Aug 1951, 1530 CST. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 08 Aug 1956, 1530 CST. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 19 Jun 1957, 1400 CST. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 15 Aug 1958, 1150 CST. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 21 Aug 1958, 1915 CST. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 07 Sep 1958, 1510 CST. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Chris, Sheridan. "Tornado touches down in Trumbull", Hartford Courant, 1992-08-05, p. D.1.
- ^ Event Record Details, 29 Jun 1994, 1416 EST. NCDC Storm Events database. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 29 May 1995, 1823 EST. NCDC Storm Events database. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 23 Jul 1995, 1830 EST. NCDC Storm Events database. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 03 Jul 1996, 05:40:00 AM EST. NCDC Storm Events database. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 09 Jul 1996, 06:00:00 PM EST. NCDC Storm Events database. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 31 May 1998, 08:30:00 PM EST. NCDC Storm Events database. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 30 Jun 1998, 07:30:00 PM EST. NCDC Storm Events database. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 16 Aug 2000, 12:35:00 PM EST. NCDC Storm Events database. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 23 Jun 2001, 01:00:00 PM EST. NCDC Storm Events database. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 23 Jun 2001, 01:50:00 PM EST. NCDC Storm Events database. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 23 Jun 2001, 02:18:00 PM EST. NCDC Storm Events database. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 01 Jul 2001, 03:25:00 PM EST. NCDC Storm Events database. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 31 May 2002, 06:40:00 PM EST. NCDC Storm Events database. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 05 Jun 2002, 10:55:00 PM EST. NCDC Storm Events database. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 16 Jun 2002, 02:10:00 PM EST. NCDC Storm Events database. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ Event Record Details, 16 Jun 2002, 04:30:00 PM EST. NCDC Storm Events database. National Climatic Data Center (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13.
- ^ National Weather Service, Upton, New York (2006-07-14). Public Information Statement (Text file). Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
- ^ National Weather Service, Upton, New York (2007-05-18). Public Information Statement (Text file). Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
- ^ Associated Press. "Small twister hits Somers", Connecticut Post, 2007-05-28, p. A7. Retrieved on 2007-06-01.
- ^ Storm Prediction Center (2007-06-01). 20070528's Storm Reports. Retrieved on 2007-06-02.
