Damaging Winds Blast Lawrence March 12th, 2006

Flooding Risks from Tropical Moisture Across the Intermountain West and East Coast

Tropical moisture from Isaias and Rachel will impact portions of the Intermountain West and East Coast states. Flooding, gusty winds and even a threat for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are possible. Meanwhile, record warmth will spread northward across the Mississippi Valley the next few days. Looking for snow, the first winter storm of the season is underway across the northern Rockies. 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.

Flooding Risks from Tropical Moisture Across the Intermountain West and East Coast

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