ABUS34 KPIT 200007
PNSPIT
MDZ001-OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-
029>032-WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041-200102-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
805 PM EDT FRI JUN 19 1998

...MICROBUSRT STRIKES NEAR BEAVER FALLS PENNSYLVANIA...

ABOUT 520 AM FRIDAY MORNING A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A RATHER INTENSE
DOWNBURST OF WIND IN THE WHITE TOWNSHIP AREA OF BEAVER COUNTY. THE
AREA HARDEST HIT WAS JUST ON THE WESTERN PERIPHERY OF BEAVER FALLS.

THE PATH OF DAMAGE STARTED ABOUT TWO HUNDRED YARDS OR SO SOUTH OF
STEFFENS HILL RD (RT 588) AND PROCEEDED NORTH-NORTHEAST ACROSS RT
588 AND AFFECTED RESIDENTAL AREAS ALONG 11TH AND 12TH STREETS.
THE PATH WAS CONFINED BETWEEN 13TH STREET ON THE WEST AND THE
CONRAIL RAILROAD TRACKS ON THE EAST.

THE SWATH OF DAMAGE WAS ABOUT 350 YARDS WIDE AND ABOUT 700 YARDS
LONG. MANY TREES WERE EITHER TOPPLED OR SNAPPED. TWO TELEPHONE
POLES WERE ALSO SNAPPED. THERE WAS ONLY LIGHT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. A
FEW SHINGLES WERE BLOWN OFF ROOFS AND ONE PORCH WAS ALSO DESTROYED.
MANY POWER LINES WERE ALSO DOWNED EITHER FROM THE WIND OR BY
TREES.

MAXIMUM WINDS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE AS HIGH AS 80 MPH. ALL OF THE
TREES AND TELEPHONE POLES WERE DOWNED IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND
EXHIBITED SOME SLIGHT DIFFLUENCE (FANNING OUT). IN ADDITION...THE
DAMAGE SWATH WAS ORIENTED FROM THE SOUTH-SOUTHWEST TO THE NORTH-
NORTHEAST. MEANWHILE...THE THUNDERSTORM MOVEMENT WAS FROM WEST TO
EAST. THESE CHARACTERISTICS ALL INDICATE THAT THE DAMAGE WAS PRODUCED
BY A "MICROBURST" (AN INTENSE FOCUSED DOWNDRAFT OF WIND FROM THE
THUNDERSTORM).

KANE




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