Storm damage in Schuyler County earlier this week was the result of two microbursts. The National Weather Service sent teams to the area on Thursday to survey areas that were impacted.
First Survey Summary:
A line of severe thunderstorms passed through the area with scattered damage on July 15. At approximately 542 PM EDT, an intense microburst occurred in a wooded higher elevation location of southwestern Schuyler County about 2 miles north-northwest of Monterey. In addition to dozens of uprooted trees up to 2 feet in diameter, there was a focused corridor of large trunk snaps, both hardwood and softwood. Other than a chicken coop which was crushed, damage though intense was limited to trees. The damage pattern was immediately intense at the initial microburst impact and then diverged while dissipating across Switzer Hill Road. Other minor tree damage could be found up and down the road outside of the main microburst corridor.
Second Survey Summary:
A line of severe thunderstorms passed through the area with scattered damage on July 15. At approximately 554 PM EDT, a focused microburst descended upon the northeast side of Montour Falls, heavily damaging or in many cases uprooting a grove of large trees up to 2 feet in diameter including sycamores. They fell in a divergent pattern, indicating a downburst. Many trees or large branches dropped upon several mobile homes, entrapping 3 residents, while also crushing 2 vehicles and a riding mower. On the front side of the microburst, a Department of Public Works storage building was completely blown apart with only one wall left standing.
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