Weatherwise, May 31, 2002, was a fateful day to remember as several severe thunderstorms roared through Allegheny County. People who were at Kennywood Amusement Park in West Mifflin, in particular, ran for cover as the sky darkened and the downpour began. Trees were stripped as fierce winds blew through the area. Wrought-iron fencing was twisted. Buildings were dislodged. One person died and more then 50 were injured. Many people believed that there had been a tornado. Richard Kane refuted that belief. As warning coordinator meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, Kane was sent out to assess the damage, and found it to have characteristics of a macroburst. A macroburst is described as a large downburst of damaging winds lasting five to 30 minutes. Kane visited California University of Pennsylvania recently to present re-analyzed meteorological data sets and explain why the Kennywood storm was classified as a macroburst. He was invited by Chad Kauffman, an assistant professor in the school's earth sciences department. Sixty people were in attendance, including students, faculty and community members. Kane provided evidence that showed the Kennywood macroburst was caused by an extremely strong jet stream in an unstable atmosphere. Radar from May 31 also shows that a bow-shaped line of thunderstorm cells were present. These bow echoes, he explained, often produce strong and damaging straight-line winds. Kane estimated that the Kennywood macroburst was accompanied by 105-mph wind gusts. He witnessed a 2.5- to 3-mile wide damage path and noticed straight-line wind damage. Pictures taken after the storm show that trees and buildings were pushed down in a single direction. Straight-line winds are not associated with rotation, said Kane, adding that a tornado would have twisted things to pieces. However, Kauffman pointed out that an intense macroburst often causes widespread tornado-like damage. A number of Kauffman's meteorology students were there to hear Kane speak. Thomas Hallowell, a senior meteorology major, believes that the majority of people are not familiar with downburst events. "They see the extensive damage path left by the storm and immediately relate it to that of a tornado," said Hallowell, who is also president of the meteorology club. "I agree with Mr. Kane's assessment. The event that took place was a macroburst and not a tornado."

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