02-25-19-R - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Ramsey County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2018 Page | 48 Downbursts may have wind gusts up to 130 mph and are capable of the same damage as a medium-sized tornado. A “gust front” is the leading edge of the thunderstorm downdraft air. It is most prominent near the rain-free cloud base and on the leading edge of an approaching thunderstorm and is usually marked by gusty, cool winds and sometimes by blowing dust. The gust front often precedes the thunderstorm precipitation by several minutes. Straight-line winds, when associated with a thunderstorm, are most frequently found with the gust front. These winds originate as downdraft air reaches the ground and rapidly spreads out, becoming strong horizontal flow. Windstorm History in Ramsey County Ramsey County frequently experiences winds blowing at over 50 knots (Figure 9). According to NCEI records, there have been 147 thunderstorm/high wind events reported between 1950 and April 2018, with wind speeds of up to 86 knots. These winds can inflict damage to buildings and in some cases, overturn high-profile vehicles. This dataset recorded 12 injuries and over $25 million in property damage since 1950. In June of 2017, two people were trapped when a tree fell on them during a windstorm in St. Paul. Minor injuries were reported. The most recent wind event causing property damage occurred in July of 2016. Trees toppled onto vehicles in the Como, Midway and Highland Park areas of St. Paul. Property damage was approximately $25,000, and 138,000 people were without power during the storm. In November of 2012, $50,000 of property damage was reported in Ramsey County due to severe winds of up to 56 knots. Most of the damage was the result of trees landing on cars, houses and sheds. Winds blowing at 61 knots in June of 2012 blew down a large swath of trees from the Highland Park area toward Randolph Avenue. Property damage was $50,000. Severe thunderstorms with wind blowing at 60 knots downed 4,000 trees in the neighborhoods of St. Anthony, Como and Phalen in August of 2007. One home was destroyed when a tree fell on it, and one man was injured by a window crashing in on him. Part of the grandstand’s roof at the State Fair was blown off, and dozens of vendor booths were damaged. XCEL Energy reported 250,000 outages in the metro region. Property damage estimates were not recorded by the NCEI. Wind and hail in Ramsey County on September 21, 2005 caused $25 million in property damage. A large number of homes were destroyed by falling trees, and the roof of a mobile home in Mounds View was blown off. Roads were blocked throughout the county. One person died in Mounds View while clearing their property, and a child was injured in New Brighton from a falling limb. In May of 1998, a derecho caused severe damages in Ramsey County, and in particular Highland Park, a neighborhood in St. Paul. Wind speeds reached 100 mph, damaging 2,000 homes and felling thousands of trees. Damages exceeded $48 million (Seeley M. , 2015).