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Re: [STORMREPORTS] Deadly Whirlwind

From: Jesse Ferrell (WeatherMatrix) (jesse{at}weathermatrix.net)
Date: Tue May 20 2003 - 20:48:42 EDT

Here is the AP article on this freak storm:

Freak Wind Causes Maine Building Collapse (Associated Press)

A freak burst of wind on a clear day apparently caused an auto body shop to
collapse, killing the owner, officials said.

Meteorologists at the National Weather Service said the cause may have been
a dust devil a whirlwind that travels along the ground like a miniature
tornado and sucks dust into the air. Several dust devils are reported in
Maine each spring when temperatures rise quickly in the morning and there
are light winds, said meteorologist Jim Hayes.

Although the whirlwinds have the power to push garbage cans around or rip
doors off hinges, Hayes said the collapse was unusual.

"They're normally not destructive," he said, adding that they generally
last less than a few minutes.

Hayes said he couldn't be certain a dust devil was responsible for the
building's collapse, but weather conditions favored one. It was a sunny
when the building collapsed.

For the full story, go to:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030520/ap_on_re_us/building_collapse_2

At 02:52 AM 5/20/2003 +0000, you wrote:
>According to current reports, a wild whirlwind was responsible for a
>deadly building collapse in Lebanon, Maine. One man was killed and
>the building he was in was completely demolished. The accident
>occurred at approximately 1:30 P.M., local time, which was originally
>reported as some type of explosion. However, witnesses report seeing
>what looked like a tornado although no storms were in the area. The
>Gray Office of the National Weather Service is investigating whether
>the incident was caused by a "dust devil." 

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Jesse Ferrell - Meteorologist / Webmaster / Founder - WeatherMatrix
5000 Weather Enthusiasts Can't Be Wrong! www.weathermatrix.net 

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