Tropical Storm — Southern New London, Connecticut

2021-07-09 · Southern New London, Connecticut

Event narrative

At the CT USCG Academy in New London a maximum sustained wind of 40 mph and peak wind gust of 47 mph was recorded at 1127am and 1136am LST, respectively. At the New London Airport ASOS, a 43 mph wind gust was recorded at 1130am LST. The highest sustained winds generally measured 30 to 40 mph with peak gusts to 50 mph across the area. These winds, combined with heavy rainfall, downed a tree and wires. closing Route 138 Bushnell Hollow Road at Grandview Drive at 917am LST.

Wider weather episode

Tropical Storm Elsa with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph, made landfall as a strong tropical storm on the panhandle of Florida on the morning of July 7th. It weakened to a minimal tropical storm as it tracked into Georgia, and then tracked northeast along the coastal plain through July 8th. Elsa strengthened a bit, with sustained winds of 50 mph, before it emerged off the Delaware coast early the morning of July 9th, and then later that morning tracked across eastern Long Island.

The highest sustained winds generally measured 30 to 40 mph with peak gusts to 45 mph along the immediate central and southeastern Connecticut coast. A maximum sustained wind of 40 mph with peak gust of 47 mph was recorded at the US Coast Guard Academy in New London Connecticut. Across coastal southwestern Connecticut and interior of the coast, maximum sustained winds were generally ranged from 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 35 mph.

Wind damage and coastal impacts were minimal from Elsa. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding were the main impacts from Elsa. As Tropical Storm Elsa tracked across the eastern portion of the area during the morning hours of July 9, heavy rainfall north and west of the storm's center resulted in flash flooding across much of southern Connecticut. Rainfall totals ranged from 3-5 inches across much of the area.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 979314. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.