VIDEO: Remembering the Plainfield Tornado of 1990

It was August 28,1990 between 3:15 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., a devastating tornado ripped a 16.4 mile path through portions of Kendall and Will counties in northern Illinois.

The Plainfield tornado tragically killed 29 people, while injuring 353.

At the time of the storm, it was the strongest tornado to ever touch down in the United States in the month of August.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETAILS AND STATISTICS FOR THE 1990 PLAINFIELD TORNADO

Not only was this tornado disastrous, it was also very unusual for several reasons:

• The Plainfield tornado was the first ever tornado greater than an F3 rating, since records began in 1950, to occur during the month of August in the state of Illinois.
• It was the second killer tornado since 1950 to occur during the month of August in Illinois.
• This tornado remains the only F5/EF5 rated tornado documented in the United States during the month of August.
• The tornado had low clouds and rain surrounding it, making it difficult to see. Because of this, no known photographs or videos of this tornado exist.
• The tornado approached from the northwest; most tornadoes approach from the southwest.

You can watch this incredible documentary put out by the Joliet Area Historical Museum as we remember that tragic day.

Thankfully, warning systems have become much more advanced giving us much more time to prepare for such storms. It motivated meteorologists and citizens alike to better predict and prepare for these types of storms. Schools did more regular tornado drills. Contributing to the lack of warning in 1990 was an overworked staff at the National Weather Service in Chicago who was tasked with forecasting for the entire state of Illinois. In response to the Plainfield tornado, other offices in Romeoville, Lincoln and others split the duties to ease the workloads.

One of the most impactful reactions to the tornado for me was the WGN documentary It Sounded like a Freight Train” hosted by Tom Skilling. I remember watching that as an 8 year old in 1991 and being so impacted by it that it spawned a strong fascination with weather inside of me that continues to motivate me to study and learn about meteorology.

Here are to the 29 people lost 34 year ago. The tragedy that struck that day sparked enomous improvements in meteorology that have saved countless lives sinse.