Microburst with peak winds of 95 mph and path length of 18 miles with width of 1.25 miles blamed for damage in Franklin County in southern Illinois, June 20, 2011

Microbust blamed for damage in Franklin County

by Betty Malkovich, The Southern Illinoisan, June 20, 2011


FRANKLIN COUNTY - A microburst is blamed for damage in Franklin County on Sunday, according to a preliminary damage assessment from the National Weather Service in Paducah, KY.


The microburst, which occurred between 3:58 to 4:13 a.m., left hundreds of trees uprooted to snapped, a few utility poles broken by fallen trees and a dozen homes damaged, mostly by fallen trees, the NWS report said.

Several barns and garages were destroyed or damaged.

A NWS team was in the county Monday to conduct the assessment, Franklin County Emergency Management Agency Director Ryan Buckingham said.

Damage was reported in Royalton, West Frankfort, Benton, Lake Benton and Ewing areas, he said.

"Most affected was the northeast part of the county, particularly in the Lake Benton area," Buckingham said.

The microburst, which carried peak winds of 95 mph, had a path length of 18 miles and was an average 1.25 miles in width, the NWS report said.

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