Was anyone at the airshow today? (appointed, company, traffic)

[zenjenn]

Sunday that is. Wow. That was one storm. My kids got hysterical - our large umbrella was utterly destroyed and we stood shielding our kids from the pelting rain with our own bodies. I heard that several people were injured and a 5-yr-old child was killed in those collapsed tents.

I'm very curious as to why they didn't see that storm cell coming or warned the spectators to seek shelter.

Those tragedies aside though, it was a good show. Too bad the storm hit before we could see the Blue Angels.

[Keeper]

I just heard on TV it was a microburst. Microburst - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
They aren't something they can see on radar apparently.

The last I heard there were 12 ppl injured and 1 person killed. They didn't say who was killed.

Glad you and your family are OK

[Bravo35223]

These microbursts are a reality. One hit our neighborhood two years ago and downed trees 4 feet in diameter. My best guess is that it was about 800 yards wide.

I know it sounds scary but its true and we need to help everyone here the best we can.

[Southlander]

Daughter and husband were there, disappointed at the cancellation. Apparently they had no problem with wind. Must have been far enough away that it wasn't bad where they were. I'm glad....she's expecting.

[zenjenn]

Wow, I have never heard of microbursts, but yes, reading about it that very well matches what we experienced. All told my husband and I really think it was an amazing, unforgettable experience, but my oldest daughter (who is prone to lots of emotional highs and lows) is feeling pretty traumatized about it. And, of course I feel so much for the family who lost the child. I took a picture of that wreckage on my way out not even imagining a child was killed. If I am ever in a situation where I am in a temporary canopy tent or something like that and a freak storm like that hits, I might be compelled to duck and cover California earthquake style.

Southlander: it really was a "burst" of wind. The name seems apropro. It felt like a normal downpour then all of the sudden there was this gush of wind and the rain was suddenly pelting very hard and very horizontal! I guess from the look of it, it's more like a "splash" of air, and it wouldn't take much distance to get away from it.

[HsvMike]

Ya, I was there with my family today. I was taking my kids pictures in the blackhawk there when the pilot told us that the storm is about to hit. We got halfway back to where our seats were when it unloaded. It didn't last too long at all but it did hit pretty hard. Then right after that, the weather was fine. Very sorry to hear about the 5 - year old and the 12 people injured.

[dramamama]

So sad that a family lost their child today--my heart goes out to them!

[33458]

We were supposed to go on Saturday but plans changed. Husband went alone on Sunday and was there when the storm hit. He was quite grumpy about the show ending early (and more so about exiting traffic issues - it seems people like to try to get out of line and cut back in...) until we read about the many injuries and fatality. Saw the ambulances but couldn't really tell what was going on - he was under another tent.

Sobering.

My heartfelt wishes to that family.

The strange thing was that same day we had some sort of experience up here by the foot of Monte Sano...was out back gardening and all of a sudden got nailed by a windstorm that toppled several things on the deck...but no rain, no wicked clouds, no nothing. Did not see it coming. Just that episode and then back to normal. Have never seen that with the sun shining.

[Southlander]

A microburst can happen in advance of a thunderstorm, as well as accompanying it...or on the fringes....which could be as many as 100 miles out.

[dramamama]

Yup--the storms are one thing I'd like to eliminate from this area--they are scary.