Question about Andrew & possibilities for Ivan

[Coldfront]

After Andrew hit Miami, pockets of extremely high wind damage (200 mph+) were supposedly found. Possibly downburst damage?

Does anyone have any info on those instances, please?

Also, if that is correct, are the downburst damage events common, and is there potential for that with Ivan?

[Guest]

In North Carolina we had a Dry Cold front come through several months back that gave us really really strong downburst winds. It was so stong they had high wind warnings for us in three hours advance. One of the strangest things I have ever witness.

[OklahomaWeather]

What kind of damage are you talking? Somewhat straight-line? Otherwise I'd assume it was a tornado.

[abajan]

The positioning of buildings can cause winds in isolated areas to increase substantially. You may have noticed, for instance, that when you take a walk along certain city streets, the winds tend to be much stronger than other streets.

Also, since Andrew was a Cat 5 one should expect to easily find gusts in excess of 200 mph. But the downbursts you questioned as a possibility may also have played a part.

[Coldfront]

OK Weather,

Andrew left areas of total devastation, where nearby, other houses weren't nearly as damaged. If I remember correctly (it's been what 12+ years now?), these were "triangular-shaped" pockets of horrific damage.

The areas in question were residential housing subdivisions. They seemed to take the brunt of the storm and bore the worst of the damage.



Abajan,

Sort of a "wind-tunnel" effect, right?

I don't know the exact specifics, but if I remember correctly, these were housing subdivisions, residential homes. I'm not sure if they'd have much of a wind-tunnel effect, as they're not built like the typical "Brownstones" on the East Coast. They're fairly well spaced apart. Not much of a chance for wind-tunnel there, imo.

Maybe wierd downdrafts? Dunno...

Thanks again everyone!

[MiaMom]

In our area of Miami, houses that face east and west were often considerably more damaged than houses that face north and south - all within the same neighborhood. Houses on a slight ridge were also more vulnerable to damage, and those in lower (even slighly lower) pockets of elevation did better. We are about one hour north of Homestead, ground zero.

[wabbitoid]

We assumed our neighborhood had some tornadoes. It was right on the nothern eye wall in Perrine, and after the bad winds went through, like right as the howl wa subsiding, the freight-train sound came on.

That's what my parents said, and they were there. I mean, THERE.

[MiaMom]

In Andrew, also houses to the east of open spaces were more damaged.

[MiaMom]

correction - houses to the west of open spaces were more damaged. Sorry.

[SootyTern]

I saw what appeared to be downburst damage just from Frances. I work at Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne and in a wooded area that had generally stood up to the winds well-sustained TS force with a few H force gusts. In one small area I noticed about a half dozen trees down. They were fanned out in all directions like something big had sat down on them. I imagine a straight line gust would knock them over all facing the same way.