Barrier jet

There is strong evidence here that a barrier jet was enhanced by the north-south gap along highway 108 in the area of the Beaudoin farm. Barrier jets occur when strong westerly flow interacts with North-South mountain ranges to generate strong southerly winds to the west of this terrain. This would have been further enhanced by the storm outflow associated with the approaching hook echo and mesocyclone. This interaction could explain the exceptional winds generatd by the storm as it crossed Highway 108.

Damage on the Beaudouin farm

The Beaudouin farm sustained what is perhaps the most devastating damage, losing several cows, a new barn roof, and severe damage to a small old barn. Fortunately, there were no serious human injuries.

Eyewitnesses reported severe southerly winds during the most frightening times. These winds blew a farmhand within the small barn inside the building. These winds also blew this tractor attachment (about 100 lbs) about 10 feet northward along the ground.

Damage on easterm side of gap

The damage pattern on the eastern side of the gap shows a different story. This picture taken from the Beaudouin farm shows that the trees at the bottom of the gap did not escape damage, with most falling towards the north (left on the page). This indicates strong southerly winds acting to uproot these trees.

Higher along the ridge, some trees also have fallen paralell to the gap (northward), but others are leaning away from the camera and to the right, indicating that both westerly and southerly winds damaged this area.

Eyewitnesses from the Beaudouin farm confirmed that pieces of the roof from the barn (a tarp-type roof) were found 1/2 to 1 mile away in this direction, indicating strong westerly winds aloft.

Damage on western side of gap

This image shows the most obvious damage looking west across highway 108. The Beaudoin farm is to the left of the image. Notice that the trees on top of the ridge are sheared off on the middle and have fallen towards the camera (eastward), indicating damaging westerly winds. Trees in the lee of this ridge are not damaged. This indicates that a gust of strong westerly winds shot over the ridge, damaging the trees on top, while leaving trees below unscathed.