Camp Cachalot Alumni Association Forums

[Dennis Wilkinson]

I was out at Cachalot yesterday afternoon, and noticed a lot of debris on the ground turning off of the Fearing Pond loop towards the camp entrance. Talking with Jeff Dumais and others who had been in the area at the time, apparently a little after 5PM Saturday there was a funnel cloud and microburst in the area of Fearings and moving towards Grassy Pond, with some pretty interesting local effects (2 foot whitecap waves on Fearings Pond) and quite a few downed trees.

No idea how long the link will last, but the National Weather Service reported the event here.

The relevant part of the report is:

[Dennis Wilkinson]

Update from the National Weather Service with a bit more information:

000
NOUS41 KBOX 171014 CCA
PNSBOX
CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-172200-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...CORRECTED DATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
615 AM EDT SUN AUG 17 2008

...National Weather Service determined that straight line thunderstorm winds caused damage at Myles Standish State Forest in Plymouth Massachusetts...

The national weather service investigated damage and interviewed eyewitnesses to the storm that impacted Myles Standish State Forest late saturday afternoon. The damage appears to have been caused by straight line winds from a thunderstorm. The damage occurred along a path of an approximate length of 3 eighths of a mile and was approximately 80 yards at its widest point. The damage extended from a northwest to southeast direction and the parent thunderstorm was centered to the northeast of the damage area. Based on damage and eyewitness reports wind speeds were estimated to be between 55 mph and 65 mph.

The damage began on the south side of Fearing Pond in Myles Standish State Forest where several large trees and branches were blown down. Eyewitnesses reported waves up to 2 and a half feet tall formed on the small pond. It was also reported that a couple of small kayaks located on the beach on the southeast corner of the pond were lifted up and blown 10 to 15 feet away from the pond. The strong winds from the northwest hit a steep embankment and a thick stand of pine trees 35 to 50 feet tall. This resulted in the small water craft being lifted up into the air off the beach and away from the water in a southeasterly direction. Also on the south side of Fearing Pond numerous tents were blown in a general southeast direction a distance of 20 to 30 feet.

After a break in the path of damage of approximately 200 yards... Numerous trees were again blown down in the area of New Grassy Pond. New Grassy Pond is what is referred to as a kettle pond and sits at the base of a bowl in the terrain. The most damage was located on the south side of this pond with the far majority of the trees being blown down towards the pond on the down slope of the terrain. It was noted that there were a couple of trees on the far side of the pond...Approximately 100 feet way...That appeared to be blown down in an opposite direction. This was likely caused by the winds entering the base of the bowl onto the pond and then the winds traveling around the edge of the pond much like water in a toilet bowl rotating around. It was also noted that water of the pond was pushed out approximately 2 feet beyond the normal water line around the majority of the pond. This was a further indication of winds blowing around the edge of the pond. It was the topography of the terrain that allowed the winds to swirl around this kettle pond.

The damage occurred between 520 pm and 535 pm.

There were no injuries made known to the national weather service staff conducting the evaluation. Outside of trees and large limbs being blown down...The only other damage included some shingles being blown off a small cottage located on the south side of Fearing Pond and a camping trailer on the southeast side of Fearing Pond that had two holes punctured in the roof from falling large limbs.

Many thanks to the eyewitnesses...Personnel from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and the personnel from Myles Standish State Forest for their help.

$$

DUNHAM
_________________
Dennis
Minister of Propaganda, Webmaestro, and Chief Bottle Washer

"Everything that passes unattempted is impossible." - Stephen R. Donaldson

[rockfall13]

Quick update, on a closer look, although not widespread, there is some damage within Cachalot. Had to look hard, but there are a few broken trees, including one very large white pine about 100 yards from the trail to the north side of Abner's. It looks like the remnants of the wind sort of meandered their way along East Line Rd. as they dissipated, occasionally actually whipping into an isolated tree.
_________________
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