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NOUS41 KBOX 242210 CCA
PNSBOX
CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-252000-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT…CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
610 PM EDT THU JUL 24 2008
…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONFIRMS EF1 TORNADO ON JULY 23 IN
WARREN RHODE ISLAND AND SWANSEA MASSACHUSETTS…
A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TEAM HAS CONCLUDED A DAMAGE SURVEY TODAY
IN A PORTION OF EASTERN RHODE ISLAND AND SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS.
WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT A WATERSPOUT OCCURRED JUST OFF OF RUMSTICK
POINT IN BARRINGTON RHODE ISLAND. THIS WATERSPOUT THEN MOVED ONTO
LAND OVER THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF WARREN NEAR THE BRISTOL LINE AT
HANLEY FARM ROAD. IT THEN CONTINUED EASTWARD ACROSS THE KICKEMUIT
RIVER IN THE TOUISSET HIGHLANDS SECTION OF WARREN. IT THEN CROSSED
THE COLE RIVER AND CONTINUED TO CAUSE DAMAGE IN THE OCEAN GROVE
SECTION OF SWANSEA.
MOST OF THE DAMAGE HAD A RATING OF EF0 ON THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE
WITH WIND SPEEDS OF 65 TO 75 MPH. HOWEVER THERE WAS ONE SMALL
SECTION OF WARREN…NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 136 AND HARRIS
AVENUE INCLUDING OVERHILL ROAD IN THE LAUREL PARK AREA…THAT
DEMONSTRATED EF1 DAMAGE. WIND SPEEDS IN THAT AREA WERE ESTIMATED AT
90 MPH.
THE TORNADO PATH LENGTH WAS 4.2 MILES AND FOR THE MOST PART WAS
CONTINUOUS. IT WAS VERY NARROW WITH A PATH WIDTH OF ONLY 40 YARDS.
THE WATERSPOUT OFF OF BARRINGTON WAS FIRST OBSERVED AT 4 PM. THE
TORNADO HIT WARREN AT 405 PM AND SWANSEA AT 410 PM.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAD ISSUED A SPECIAL MARINE
WARNING FOR NARRAGANSETT BAY AT 335 PM AND MENTIONED THE POSSIBILITY
OF A WATERSPOUT DEVELOPING. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING WAS ISSUED
AT 350 PM AND IT WAS UPGRADED TO A TORNADO WARNING AT 404 PM.
NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MAJORITY OF THE DAMAGE WAS TO
TREES…SOME OF WHICH FELL ONTO POWER LINES AND HOUSES. THERE WERE
NUMEROUS EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF DARK FUNNELS… SWIRLING
DEBRIS…INTENSE ROARING…AND A GARAGE DOOR BOWED OUT TOWARD THE
PATH OF THE TORNADO. A LARGE TREE NEAR HARRIS AVENUE WAS LIFTED UP
AND THROWN 40 FEET ONTO ROUTE 136. AT THAT LOCATION…SMALL TRAILERS
ALSO HAD BEEN BLOWN ONTO ROUTE 136.
MANY THANKS TO THE EYEWITNESSES…AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS…POLICE
AND FIRE OFFICIALS…AND LOCAL MEDIA WHO PROVIDED VITAL INFORMATION
FOR THIS SURVEY.
$$
FIELD/DELLICARPINI
