Damaging Winds Blast Lawrence March 12th, 2006

Heavy Rainfall Possible in the Upper Midwest, South Texas, and Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Scattered thunderstorms and heavy rainfall may bring areas of flooding though the weekend over the Upper Midwest. A tropical disturbance will bring moderate to locally heavy rain to portions of South Texas into Saturday. Hurricane Erin may bring isolated flash and urban flooding, landslides or mudslides, and tropical storm conditions to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Read More >

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS SURVEYED THE WIND DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED ACROSS MUCH OF LAWRENCE AROUND 8 AM CST, MARCH 12. THE LARGE AREA OF WIND DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM MICROBURST OF 70 TO 90 MPH STRAIGHT LINE WINDS.

MICROBURSTS ARE VERY STRONG WINDS THAT QUICKLY DESCEND FROM THE BASE OF A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND THEN SPREAD OUT QUICKLY UPON IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THESE STRAIGHT LINE DAMAGING WINDS CAN CAUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ACROSS A LARGE AREA.

VIDEO RECEIVED SO FAR TAKEN IN LAWRENCE SHOW THE SUDDEN DOWNBURST FROM THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM BASE AND THE FANNING OUT OF THE DOWNBURST AS IT HITS THE GROUND, WHICH ALSO CAUSED WIDESPREAD BLOWING DUST.

Heavy Rainfall Possible in the Upper Midwest, South Texas, and Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Damaging Winds Blast Lawrence March 12th, 2006 - NWS Topeka, KS