This weekend marks the 20th anniversary of the Plainfield tornado that devastated so many; killing 29 people and injuring another 350. Storms started across the Wisconsin/Illinois border and produced brief tornadoes around Pecatonica and Seward before moving southeast into DeKalb and Kane counties producing damaging winds and large hail. The storm continued to gain strength as it moved near Oswego and eventually through Plainfield. It was estimated that $160 million (in 1990) in damaged occurred; 470 homes were destroyed while another 1000 homes were damaged. This storm was very unique and unusual for many reasons. One, there were no tornado watches or warnings put out at all. Northern Illinois had been upgraded to a moderate risk but forecasters had no idea a storm was on the ground until it dissipated near Joliet! It hit at a time when children were leaving school and many coming home from work. The tornado itself was obstructed by low clouds and rain so no one saw it coming. It remains the only F5/EF5 tornado documented in the U.S. during the month of August.
I was only 8 years old when the storm hit and don't remember too much of it. I did, however, go to school with someone who actually lived through the tornado and she said it was a day that she would never forget! She remembered getting home from school and the 'sky just turning very dark'. I think that's what actually inspired her to pursue a career in meteorology!
This week we'll continue to take a look back and talk about the meteorological events that lead to this storm as well as how forecasting has changed within the past 20 years!
If you would like to read more information on this, the National Weather Service has put together a very informative summary of this event.
No comments:
Post a Comment