Silverstreet, South Carolina

public information statement
National Weather Service Columbia SC
1255 PM EDT Mon July 6 2009

... Microburst in the town of Lexington South Carolina...

A thunderstorm moved across the town of Lexington during the evening
of July 1st between 1005 PM and 1012 PM. A microburst associated
with the storm produced winds between 80 and 90 mph. The main area
of damaged occurred about 1 1/2 miles west northwest of Lexington in
the Westbrook and Martins Grove subdivisions. There were a few trees
that were snapped off near the ground and uprooted. There were also
numerous large limbs that fell. Several homes received minor damage
to roofs along with areas of vinyl siding that were removed. Large
limbs also fell on a car.

A microburst is a strong downdraft which produces an outburst of
damaging winds on or near the ground in a small area. The damaging
winds can be either straight or curved and are divergent in nature.
Often these events can produce tornado-like damage.


Vaughan