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F1 tornado in New Haven County, Connecticut

Tornado July 3, 1996 · New Haven County, Connecticut

F1
Rating
0.5 mi
Path length
100 yd
Path width
$2.0M
Damage as recorded
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated

The path drawn at its surveyed width of 100 yards (0.06 mi) — zoom in and the swath grows to true scale. Other tornadoes recorded nearby that day are shown faint.

What F1 means. This tornado was rated on Fujita’s original scale, used until 2007. F1 meant moderate damage: roofs badly stripped, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, windows broken; the scale paired it with winds of 73–112 mph, figures later judged too high, especially toward the top of the scale, and revised downward in the Enhanced Fujita scale. Ratings then, as now, came from the damage.

The wider storm

A team of National Weather Service Meteorologists confirmed that an F1 tornado occurred.A small area of strong thunderstorms moved through the area and the first serious damage occurred north and west of Montoe Park, just to the north of downtown Waterbury. Indications of a weak F0 tornado were displayed in this area of about 0.1 miles long and 33 yards wide. Many trees in the area were also blown down by straight line winds , but again indications of some rotation in the treetops were evident throughout this region.The storm moved northeast, with tree damage in a several block-wide area. Touchdown occurred again at the Wilby High School, where an F1 tornado touched down with a path length of about 0.3 miles and a path width of about 100 yards. This tornado destroyed a tool shed then moved northeast across the High School's football field. It blew down the scoreboard and carried it over a half mile away. It also destroyed a set of bleachers and scattered the seats for a half mile area in the direction the storm moved. Next the storm did serious damage to the roof of the school building and blew out several windows. Early damage estimates for this school alone was nearly $ 1 million dollars. The tornado lifted just northeast of the school.About 1 mile to the north, the storm next hit the town of Wolcott. Again severe tree damage was observed along both sides of Beach Road from Longmeadow Road east to Route 69. This damage was predominantly straight line wind damage. However, there were indications in some locations that rotation occurred in the tops of trees. A porch roof was blown off and carried over the house in the opposite direction the storm moved near Alcott and Beach Roads. Most trees fell in the same direction and although there were indications of rotation at treetop level, there were no regions where a funnel had made contact with the ground.Eyewitnesses stated that the wind damage occurred after heavy rains and hail nearly ended. Hail size was estimated up to 1 inch in diameter. Many witnesses said they heard a sound like a train and at this point sent everyone into the basement.

Began near Waterbury (41.5500, -73.0300).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 5584017. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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