iWitness PhotoGLASTONBURY, CT (WFSB) -
National Weather Service meteorologists were in Glastonbury earlier today, surveying the damage from Friday night's storm.
Preliminary reports from the National Weather Service indicate that there was a strong straight-line downburst, most commonly known as a microburst, that affected a portion of eastern Glastonbury.
Based on the damage, wind speeds have been estimated in the 85 to 100 mph range.
The strong winds brought down trees and power lines in the area, leaving many residents without power overnight.
At the height of the storm, 25 percent of Glastonbury was without power.
"The winds whipped up and started spinning around," said Glastonbury resident Karen Paruolo, "walls of water came through and our power went out."
Alan Dunham, of the National Weather Service, who spoke with Eyewitness News while surveying the damage, described the difference between a tornado and straight-line winds.
"Straight-line winds are just that, winds going out in a straight line from the thunderstorm," said Dunham. "A tornado has those rotating winds that you get."
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