The National Weather Service has confirmed a microburst caused damage to homes and trees in Gilmanton on Friday.
Jeff Underhill is a scientist at the state Department of Environmental Services. He says any severe thunderstorm can cause a microburst – a sudden, straight down-gust of wind.
"And when it hits the ground, it curves out so it blows along level with the ground,” Underhill says. “It can be quite high wind speeds, high enough to knock down trees."
That's what officials say happened near Gilmanton's Sawyer Lake Friday. The microburst brought winds up to 80 mph, with hail and torrential rains.
No one was injured, but the storm downed trees and power lines that damaged some houses.
