NWS Melbourne Home Page - Stuart Downburst Survey

Stuart / Witham Field Downburst
March 6, 2008

At 3:15 PM... Radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing nickel-sized hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph, 12 miles west of Jonathon Dickinson State Park. The storm was moving to the northeast at 15 mph. By 3:34 PM the storm was moving across Stuart, producing small hail. The air traffic control tower at Martin County Airport / Witham Field reported a wind gust to 97 mph at 3:55 PM. As the storm moved across the airport area the winds damaged several aircraft and hangars on the north side of the field.
Map of the Stuart Area, airport indicated:
Products Issued by the NWS office in Melbourne:
Special Weather Statement at 2:52 PM Severe Thunderstrorm Warning at 3:19 PM Severe Weather Statement at 3:39 PM Local Storm Report at 4:23 PM Local Storm Report at 4:55 PM Local Storm Report (Summary) at 7:46 PM
Radar Imagery:
Reflectivity at 3:42 PM EST
Aircraft was moved by winds.	Damaged Aircraft at Witham Field
Hangar door blown about by winds.
Thanks to Galaxy Aviation for providing photographs.