Savannah, GA Microburst - February 24, 2012

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Radar Imagery

KCLX Reflectivity

KCLX Storm-Relative Velocity at Event Time

Damage Pictures

Credit: NOAA/National Weather Service - Charleston, SC

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
509 PM EST SAT FEB 25 2012


...A STRONG MICROBURST /STRAIGHT LINE WIND DAMAGE/ CONFIRMED IN
THE SAVANNAH METRO AREA...


LOCATION...APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE SOUTH OF HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD IN
THE SAVANNAH GEORGIA METRO AREA.
DATE...FEBRUARY 24 2012
ESTIMATED TIME...407 PM
ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED...85-90 MPH
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH...1 MILE
PATH LENGTH...3.98 MILES
BEGINNING LAT/LON...31.98684 / -81.15550
ENDING LAT/LON...31.99057 / -81.11813
* FATALITIES...0
* INJURIES...0

* THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO
CHANGE PENDING FINAL REVIEW OF THE EVENT(S) AND PUBLICATION IN NWS
STORM DATA.


...SUMMARY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON SC HAS CONFIRMED A
SEVERE MICROBURST /STRAIGHT LINE WIND DAMAGE/ OCCURRED VERY NEAR
THE HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD LOCATED IN THE SAVANNAH METRO AREA.

THE MICROBURST BEGAN VERY NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF ABERCORN STREET
AND APACHE AVENUE AND MOVED RAPIDLY EAST/NORTHEAST BEFORE DISSIPATING
NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF EAST MONTGOMERY CROSS ROADS AND
MEADOWBROOK ROAD. THESE HIGH WINDS...ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN 85 AND
90 MPH...DOWNED OR SNAPPED OF 25 TO 30 LARGE TREES ALONG WITH
HUNDREDS OF LARGE LIMBS AND BRANCHES. AT LEAST 7 LARGE TREES WERE
BLOWN DOWN ON HOMES AND CAUSING SIGNIFICANT ROOF DAMAGE. THERE
WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A TORNADO BASED ON ALL AVAILABLE INFORMATION.

THE MICROBURST IMPACTED PORTIONS OF THE FOLLOWING SAVANNAH
DISTRICTS...WILSHIRE ESTATES...COLONIAL VILLAGE...OAKHURST...
PARADISE PARK AND LYNHURST.


THIS INFORMATION CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE AT
WEATHER.GOV/CHS.


FOR REFERENCE...
A MICROBURST IS A CONVECTIVE DOWNDRAFT WITH AN AFFECTED OUTFLOW AREA
OF LESS THAN 2 1/2 MILES WIDE AND PEAK WINDS LASTING LESS THAN
5 MINUTES. MICROBURSTS MAY INDUCE DANGEROUS HORIZONTAL/VERTICAL
WIND SHEARS...WHICH CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE AND
CAUSE PROPERTY DAMAGE. STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS ARE GENERALLY ANY WIND
THAT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ROTATION...USED MAINLY TO DIFFERENTIATE
THEM FROM TORNADIC WINDS.

$$