High Wind — Eastern Hampden, Massachusetts

2006-10-20 · Eastern Hampden, Massachusetts

Event narrative

Trees and wires were blown down in Southwick, West Springfield, Holyoke, Brimfield, and Longmeadow. As many as eight heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units were torn from their moorings at Holyoke Mall, forcing its evacuation when a gas line was severed. A roof was blown off an apartment building across town, causing as many as 40 residents to seek shelter.

Wider weather episode

Damaging winds affected portions of western and central Massachusetts behind a strong cold front, as colder air surged into southern New England. Although wind gusts were only estimated as high as 50 mph, considerable damage was reported from the east slopes of the Berkshires into the hills of northern Worcester County. There were many reports of downed trees and power lines, likely the result of trees still having most of their leaves. In particular, between 75 and 100 trees were either blown down or partially uprooted at Tully Lake Campground in Royalston.

In Holyoke, the wind gusts tore as many as eight heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units from their moorings on the roof of the Holyoke Mall, forcing its evacuation when a gas line was severed. Across town, the wind also took the roof off a four-story apartment building, leaving as many as 40 residents to seek shelter.

In Springfield, a man was struck and killed by a falling branch as he was walking his dog in a park. Another man in Charlemont was injured when a tree landed on the windshield of his moving vehicle.

About 10,000 customers lost electricity because of the high winds.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1216. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.