1 - Description of Tornado Path and Damage

<p>In the late afternoon of May 15, 2018 four tornados, a macroburst, and a microburst moved through parts of our state. One of the tornados, rated an F1 with speeds reaching 110 mph, moved east from Beacon Falls through Bethany into the northern part of Hamden. Just before reaching the Sleeping Giant the damage path of this tornado widened and the winds became straight-line in nature with speeds of 100 mph. The greatest damage from these winds occurred here near the parking lot, picnic areas and Mill River with scattered spots occurring along the Tower Path, the Nature Trail and on the north side of the Giant as well.</p> <p>The force of these winds caused severe damage to all types of trees on the Giant, however, white pine trees, such as the ones that had surrounded the parking lot and provided shade in the picnic areas, were particularly susceptible to the tornado’s winds. Most of the white pine trees were snapped in half with their tops flung onto the ground leaving only bare, ragged trunks still standing. Trees that were not broken in half were uprooted and tossed down as easily as a child tosses aside a toy. Such extensive destruction of the white pine forest in this area necessitated a complete removal of all the magnificent mature trees that once graced this area.</p>

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