Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena - CIG

Storm Data and Unusual Weather PhenomenaTimePath PathNumber ofEstimatedLocal/ Length WidthPersonsDamageLocation DateStandard (Miles) (Yards) Killed Injured Property Crops Character of StormMarch 1998DISTRICT OF COLUMBIAthe heels of a mild and wet February, brought temperatures to their lowest values since the 1st of the year. Luckily, the legendaryJapanese cherry trees, which had budded prematurely due to the wet mild conditions in February, closed up enough such thatdamage was virtually unnoticed when the final blooms appeared during the last weekend of the month. Other minor damage wasnoted to early blooming magnolia trees.Though no individual temperature records were set, the average daytime highs in the upper 30s to around 40 and nighttime lows inthe lower 20s were some 10 to 15 degrees below normal.DCZ001District Of Columbia27 1500EST0 0Unseasonably Warm31 1800ESTAfter a winter of cloudy, wet conditions, spring struck back with a vengeance in the form of strong atmospheric high pressure.Underneath the high, very warm and dry weather developed - more like early June than late March. Daytime high temperaturesaveraged in the mid 80s and nighttime lows were equally balmy - in the upper 50s to lower 60s. A new record high was achieved onthe 30th, when Reagan National Airport (DCA) had a maximum temperature of 87. This broke the 1963 record by 1 degree.FLORIDA, East CentralMartin CountyHobe SoundOsceola CountyKissimmeeThe early heat wave, which began on a weekend, brought the famed Japanese cherry trees into full blossom, causing a tourist trafficjam. However, the warm weather took away what it quickly gave - the blossoms turned to leaves within 5 days, rather than thenormal 1 to 2 weeks.010010EST00Hail (1.00)09 0150EST 0.2 50 0 0 70KTornado (F0)A category F2 tornado touched down briefly in the western part of Kissimmee producing minor damage to about 40 mobile homes.Most of the damage was to carports and awnings.Brevard CountyCocoa Beach09 0220EST0 0 50KThunderstorm Wind (G60)Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and damaged the roof of a high school building in Cocoa Beach.Brevard CountyPatrick Afb09 0229EST0 0 5KThunderstorm winds blew down traffic signals and produced a gust to 74 mph at Patrick AFB.Thunderstorm Wind (G64)Okeechobee County2 SW Okeechobee to 09 0320EST2 E Okeechobee4 100 0105.4MTornado (F1)An F1 tornado touched down along the north shore of Lake Okeechobee near Highway 441. The tornado moved northeast thoug hOkeechobee damaging six businesses and nine homes. Thirteen mobile homes and recreational vehicles were destroyed. About 100others were damaged. Ten people were injured. Two required hospitalization.St. Lucie County1 N Ft Pierce 09 0348EST 0.5 50 0 0 3.2MTornado (F1)An F1 tornado touched down at the St. Lucie County Fair grounds destroying 20 amusement park rides, bleachers, and outbuildings. The tornado then moved northeast toward the St. Lucie County Airport where it overturned 8 planes and destroyed ahanger. No one was injured.Volusia CountyDe Land20 1456ESTVolusia CountyNew Smyrna Beach 20 1510ESTSt. Lucie County12 W Ft Pierce 20 1605EST000000Hail (1.25)Hail (1.00)Hail (1.00)37 31