Sounds like a great experience…a lot of kids! While VIS satellite imagery can show great details in the evolution of clouds, a limitation is the fact it is dependent on sunshine to view. Most people from Nebraska have vivid memories of the Omaha tornado on May 6, 1975, or the Grand Island tornadoes of June 3, 1980. 850mb analysis shows increased southerly flow (low-level jet) developing during the evening hours, helping sustain thunderstorm activity. Toll from tornado reaches 4 deaths The death toll from the tornadoes which ripped through Grand Island Tuesday increased to four late Wednesday afternoon when emergency authorities found a fourth body in the rubble of the Dairy Queen on the southwest corner of … National Weather Service Since then, the event has become a book and a television movie. It is arguably an unparalleled event in meteorological history. It sounded like it was directly over the house and comparing it to a freight train wouldn’t have been far off. The 1980 Grand Island tornado outbreak, also known as The Night of the Twisters, was a tornado outbreak that produced a series of destructive tornadoes that affected the city of Grand Island, Nebraska, on Tuesday, June 3, 1980. I hope the severe weather that is forecasted for today doesn’t come to be. Between 9:05-9:12 p.m. CDT, Tornadoes #1, #2, and #3 were on the ground, Between 9:12-9:30 p.m. CDT, Tornadoes #1 and #3 were on the ground, Between 10:25-10:28 p.m. CDT, Tornadoes #5 and #6 were on the ground. Same vantage point – looking north on South Locust Street. But science didn’t expect what happened. All NOAA. I can remember that day as if it were yesterday. The 1980 Grand Island tornado occurred on June 3, 1980 in Grand Island, Nebraska.. On the evening of June 3, 1980, Grand Island was hit by a storm unlike any seen before on the Great Plains of North America. At that point I knew they were some extroindary people and there would be a lot I could learn from them. A 'swirl' pattern of the tornado circulation is visible. On the evening of June 3, 1980, Grand Island was hit by a storm unlike any seen before on the Great Plains of North America. It was great getting to meet so many people from across the nation. The tornadoes only moved at around 8 MPH, giving them plenty of time to be incredibly destructive. They’re GOOD people! Jennifer Hill The family home, at 2303 N. Howard Ave., didn’t have a basement. Thunderstorm Safety “Tornado Alley ” is the nickname given to the south-central region of the United States, where tornadoes tend to f orm at high frequency. No one who was in Grand Island, Nebraska on June 3, 1980 will ever forget that night. I just got back home today from DC and head out tomorrow to meet up with them. On days where severe weather is a threat, the behavior of clouds (or the lack of clouds period) can provide insight on where thunderstorm development is (or is not) likely. Kearney - Daily I remember playing in Grandpa’s office and thinking how cool it was. About 30 minutes later we learned that the same storm dropped a tornado on the town of Lynn Indiana just maybe 12 miles north east of our farm and did some really serious damage. The largest of these was an F-4 that leveled everything it came into contact with. The result was the most unusual in … This 600-yard wide tornado tracked approximately 4 miles over mainly rural areas, though additional injuries did occur. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced such heat. The third tornado of the evening, and the second anti-cyclonic, touched down between Webb Road and Highway 281, just north of Airport Road. Regional Weather Summary Date(s) (yyyy-mm-dd) Please select one of the following: Tuesday, June 3,1980 marked one of the most unique tornado events to ever impact Nebraska, if not the entire United States. Tuesday, June 3,1980 marked one of the most unique tornado events to ever impact Nebraska, if not the entire United States. ... from tornadoes that tore through Grand Island on June 3, 1980. Since then, the event has become a book and a … 1980 Grand Island,NE Tornado Newspaper Stamped June 3rd, 1980 The Story Of The Grand Island Tornadoes, The Grand Island Daily Independent. OUTSTANDING!! I remember the red cross served sandwiches and pop all day long. They are the reason I am the way I am today. Lot of memories. A 32 page … I remember that movie. Aerial photo of the bowling alley (Meves Bowl) on East Bismark Road. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Tornadoes #1 (left) & 2 (right, anti-cyclonic) located just west of the radar at 9:08 p.m. Tornado #4 (anti-cyclonic) located south of the radar at 9:48 p.m. CDT. It is arguably an unparalleled event in meteorological history. During the early evening hours, a massive supercell thunderstorm complex developed just north-northwest of Grand Island. K-Mart building on South Locust Street was spared major damage and served as a command post for post-storm operations. This would be looking East. Once the sun sets (seen in the gradual darkening of the images below), VIS is no longer usable until the next morning. On that table sat my graduation picture. So, maybe what we should start doing is paying more attention to the animals and maybe not so much importance on the weatherman 🙂. The images below show Visible (VIS) SMS-II (pre-GOES) data. Additional advances in computing power and equipment improvements over the past several years have given meteorologists powerful tools to assess anything from drizzle to freezing rain to tornadoes. I lived on east 7th st. but I had to get home cause my dog was chained up outside and both me and my dog were scared to death. Over a period of just under 3 hours, this storm complex would produce multiple tornadoes in and around the city of Grand Island. Radar technology has changed tremendously in the years since this event. This many slow-moving, damaging tornadoes affecting such a small-but-populated geographic area makes it an one-of-a-kind event, but what made it even more unique was the fact that 3 of the 7 tornadoes were anti-cyclonic! Tornado #1 located WNW of the radar at 9:01 p.m. Thanks for sharing your story. Tornado maps and statistics for all tornadoes in Nebraska in 1980. Hastings - Daily Tornado maps and statistics for all tornadoes in Nebraska in 1980. And the helicopters flew all night using their spotlights to watch for looters. These images show surface based Convective Available Potential Energy, otherwise known as CAPE (J/kg). Here is a top-down view of the atmosphere behind the June 3rd tornado outbreak. US Dept of Commerce The previous day tornadoes were reported in Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio.Several more tornadoes broke out on that day in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Nebraska.On the evening of Wednesday, June 3, a slow-moving supercell thunderstorm developed over Nebraska.. Not sure what’s going to happen for us this year – even there. We persevere through many difficulties and continue to march on. Cooperative Observers U.S. tornadoes 1950-2017. It was like a war zone. Winter Weather Grand Island Tornadoes of 1980. The tornado crossed Highway 34 and tracked another half-mile southeast before lifting. We were fortunate with the storms last night. NWS Enterprise Resources. I find it rather ironic that we’re being told of the seriousness of today’s weather. Judy Ruff. night of the tornadoes.”, There was wheat that needed to be cut. Snow Cover, Climate It’s not a residence – it’s an office for a car lot. I don’t know what year it was built but it was outside of the Grand Island city limits. The weather had been unstable for several days, and severe thunderstorms had been forecast over the weekend. She was alright thank God. The house still stands at 2204 South Locust in Grand Island, NE. – Source. Damage in rural areas just southeast of Grand Island, More scour marks from one of the tornadoes southeast of Grand Island. There was 105 of us from across the nation and our time was spent touring the major national monuments as well as some educational classes on the world of telecommunications. Boy was he wrong. A custom harvester is a different breed of people. This tornado tracked to the southwest, just northeast of the intersection of Stuhr and Shimmer Roads, then turned north along the west side of Stuhr Road before lifting near Highway 34. NWS (My final blog for 20... ****** The tornado center is the large hole just left of center. The United States by far has the most tornadoes in the world, averaging 1,274 per year in the last decade while Canada reports nearly 100 annually. This video is unavailable. I was living in Grand island at that time and was stuck in west GI until the twisters quit wind was still a problem as i was waiting for a train in water running board deep when the front end of my car came off the ground. The damage was most devastating along the minutes the tornado trekked down South Locust Street, where homes and businesses were "obliterated". Grand Island - Daily 1980-06-03: Grand Island, NE. I’m glad you enjoyed my memory of at “event”! I never got so tired of pop as I did at that time! Experimental Winter Storm Outlook, Current Conditions Local Historical Tornado Info They were lucky that way. The highest rated tornado was a F4 The bug zapper had been sitting on the West side of the house very close to the basement window. The deadliest and most powerful tornado of the evening touched down on the east side of Grand Island in the Eagles Lake and Crystal Lake areas. Look just below the window…the bug zapper is still sitting where Dad saw it. The almost 6-mile long path took 12 minutes to cover and resulted in 4 fatalities and numerous injuries. When it came, it came suddenly and right overhead. This tornado moved east and northeast over mainly open farmland for just over 13 miles. The fourth tornado, and third and final anti-cyclonic tornado, touched down near Highway 34 and Shady Bend Road. All those memories had to stop after the tornadoes on June 3, 1980. Rivers and Lakes I have a great harvest friend in Colby. Dad was in Grand Island helping Grandpa and Grandma get ready to leave for harvest. Grandpa and Grandma’s house is the one just to the left of the brown house that looks like it was untouched. Area Forecast Discussion Experimental Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook Local Storm Reports, Forecasts Damge to a house with debris along tornado path. This 1000-yard wide tornado swept west just north of Bismark Road, crossed Shady Bend and Stuhr Roads, before turning southwest across Bismark Road north of the Fonner Park area. Aerial photo of tornado path through a field. I wish Grandma would have written her memories down. In fact they brought almost two inches of rain in storms Saturday and Sunday. This 700-yard wide tornado tracked south for 7 miles, lifting 4 miles northwest of downtown Grand Island. grandisland1980-2000 longnowange.gq/ The 1980 Grand Island tornado outbreak.Seven tornadoes hit Grand Island, Nebraska takes five lives, 357 single-family homes, 33 mobile homes, 85 apartments, 49 businesses and $300 million in damages all told, according to National Weather Service and American Red Cross statistics on the deadly storm. No wonderful memories will come from that building ever again. Join this group to share your memories of the "Night of the Twisters," mourn what was lost, and celebrate the community that rebuilt the city in … The story by Ivy Ruckman published in 1984, is written from the point of view of 12-year-old Dan Hatch, who – after his home and neighborhood are destroyed by one of the tornadoes – begins a search for his parents as more tornadoes roll through the area. If I remember right, it was for quite a long time as the sirens just kept going and going and going. In convective situations, such as June 3rd, the rapid development and expansion of the brighter colors (especially the reds) between 6-8 p.m. CDT shows the storm's explosive growth. Homes: 531 destroyed, 415 damaged, 1,038 had minor damage, Businesses: 49 destroyed, 23 with major damage, 35 with minor damage, Hospitals: 250 people treated in 12 hours, National guard personnel: 400 personnel brought in, Approximately 300 million dollars in 1980 (would equate to roughly 1 billion dollars in 2020), Farms: 35 badly damaged or destroyed, 11 with major damage, 20 with minor damage, Farm buildings: 48 destroyed, 80 with minor damage, Approximately 5.1 million dollars (would equate to roughly 17 million dollars in 2020). As a side note, Grandpa’s chair sat in the corner and there was a small table next to it. The Tornadoes of Easter 1913. ... be important to understand the relationship between our communications center and the one at Grand Island. The brown van and trailer house was home for several days. Along this path, a woman was killed while trying to drive to a relative's house, 25 people were injured, and farm houses were torn apart. It’s sad to see all that damage but it’s tough times like that that make people stronger. Unlike Visible satellite imagery, IR satellite data is not dependent on sunlight and is available 24-hours a day.