An EF-0 tornado that touched down less than two miles from the Connecticut border on Tuesday, July 22, brought damaging winds within striking distance of western Greenwich, while severe thunderstorms dumped more than 4.4 inches of rain on parts of town, knocked out power to hundreds of homes, and forced beach closures.
The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado formed at 4:10 p.m. on the Manhattanville University campus in Purchase, N.Y., and tracked east-northeast through Rye Brook before dissipating at 4:17 p.m. Its intermittent path stretched 1.82 miles, reached 40 yards wide, and produced estimated peak winds of 85 mph. No injuries or deaths were reported.
The NWS damage survey determined the tornado lifted before reaching Connecticut. But storm damage crossed the state line almost simultaneously.
Trees and wires came down on Ettl Lane in Glenville around 4:15 p.m., according to the Greenwich Sentinel, which published photographs showing a mature tree blocking the roadway while an Eversource crew worked nearby. Whether the Glenville damage came from the confirmed tornado's outflow or from straight-line winds remains unclear. The NWS has not attributed any Connecticut damage to the tornado.
"Apparently we had a small tornado here in Glenville yesterday. It missed my house by half a block," a Glenville resident who submitted the photographs wrote to the Sentinel on Wednesday, July 23.
Two rounds of storms
The storms hit Greenwich in two waves on July 22. A flash flood warning went out late that morning after one to two inches of rain had already fallen. A severe thunderstorm warning followed for a cell capable of 60 mph gusts and hail the size of quarters.
Rainfall totals varied sharply. Some Greenwich gauges recorded more than 4.4 inches; others measured closer to one inch, reflecting how narrow and concentrated the heaviest downpours were, the Sentinel reported.
Eversource reported hundreds of outages in Greenwich on July 22, part of more than 2,000 statewide outages that afternoon, according to Greenwich Time. The storms also caused Metro-North commuter rail delays after weather-related signal problems near Stamford.
Greenwich Point and Byram Beach were closed to swimming on Wednesday, July 23, because rainfall exceeded the town's water-quality closure thresholds. Island Beach and Great Captain's Island remained open.
More flooding Thursday
A second round of heavy rain struck on Thursday, July 24, flooding Pemberwick Road, Druid Lane, Anderson Road at King Street, and North Street, according to the Greenwich Sentinel's news briefs. Cognewaugh Road at Stanwich Road and the area near 51 Winterset Road were closed. A flood watch remained in effect until 3 p.m.
Town officials advised drivers to use alternate routes and avoid flooded roads, downed trees, and utility lines.
Reporting outages and hazards
Residents can report power outages to Eversource by calling 800-286-2000. Anyone who encounters downed power lines should stay away and call 911.
