Meteorology Monday - 02/20/2023

Today's topic is Tornadoes. I would doubt that many or any of you would have images associated with this phenomenon. However, please pile on with cloud or storm images of your own.

This wall cloud did not produce a tornado in Illinois: Sirens were blaring indicating that there was a tornado warning, so I jumped into my car and headed out to see if I could catch an image. I had stopped at a light in Grayslake and looked up and saw the wall cloud rotating directly above me. I decided to make a quick right turn and move in the opposite direction of the potential tornado movement (they typically move from SW to NE in the Midwest). After getting on the proper side, I drove to a closer position to photograph the wall cloud, but no tornado was produced in spite of local reports that one was on the ground.

wall cloud.jpg


The following images were taken after the August 28, 1990 Plainfield. IL tornado which is the only EF5 tornado (winds over 200 miles per hour) to ever have occurred in August in the United States. This is a link to the information about the tornado which describes some of the damage I documented done by the storm. 1990 Plainfield tornado - Wikipedia

Bus shed at Plainfield High School.

bus shed.jpg


Bus with a 2x4 rammed through the window and drivers seat.

stake in bus.jpg


Front of St. Mary' Church with damage from flying debris.

tornado damagest.jpg


Back of St. Mary's Church with damage done by the metallic steeple slamming into the lower tower many times.

st.mary'sback.jpg


Cemetary with a pillar blown off a monument and into the ground. The other side of the cemetery had pillars blow off in the opposite direction as a result of the rotation in the tornado.

graveyard.jpg


An airborne dumpster slammed into a telephone pole, broke the pole, and wrapped around it.

dumpster.jpg


A broken 2x4 and 1x6 blown by the wind rammed through the back window, through the back seat, and out the trunk of this car.

tornado.jpg
 
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AlanLichty

Moderator
I certainly have never seen wind like that in person and while I am a dedicated storm watcher being a witness to that level of destruction is not on my bucket list! I am presuming that the trailer in the background of the last image was brought in after the tornado had passed as it shows little to no damage.
 
I certainly have never seen wind like that in person and while I am a dedicated storm watcher being a witness to that level of destruction is not on my bucket list! I am presuming that the trailer in the background of the last image was brought in after the tornado had passed as it shows little to no damage.
The people who live in the house are living in the trailer until the house is fixed up.
 
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