1980 Grand Island tornado outbreak facts for kids
Shown here is the second F3 to hit Grand Island (right) and the first F1 to hit the city (left).
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| Duration | June 3, 1980 |
|---|---|
| Tornadoes confirmed | 29 |
| Max rating1 | F4 tornado |
| Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 2 days |
| Damage | $ 300 million (1980 USD) |
| Total fatalities | 6 fatalities, 413 injuries |
| Areas affected | Midwestern and Northeastern United States |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado | |
The 1980 Grand Island tornado outbreak, also known as The Night of the Twisters, was a series of powerful tornadoes. These storms hit the city of Grand Island, Nebraska, on Tuesday, June 3, 1980. Seven tornadoes struck Grand Island that night. They killed five people and injured 200 others.
People in Grand Island often call this event "The Night of the Twisters." This name comes from a book by Ivy Ruckman. The book is a fictional story based on the real tornadoes. Later, a made-for-TV movie with the same name was made. It first aired in February 1996 on The Family Channel (now Freeform). While Grand Island was hit hardest, this tornado outbreak actually produced 29 tornadoes over two days. It caused a lot of damage as far east as Pennsylvania. In total, 413 people were injured across seven different states.
Contents
What was the Grand Island Tornado Outbreak?
The tornado outbreak started on June 2. Strong tornadoes hit Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio. One tornado even struck the east side of Indianapolis. Sadly, one person died near Crawfordsville, Indiana.
Tornado activity continued on June 3. More strong tornadoes touched down in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Nebraska. For about three hours on the evening of June 3, 1980, a very slow-moving supercell storm moved over Grand Island, Nebraska. This storm created several tornadoes.
This outbreak was very unusual in United States history. The supercells moved very slowly, only about 8 miles per hour. Also, three of the seven tornadoes were anticyclonic. This means they spun clockwise, which is rare for tornadoes. Most tornadoes spin counter-clockwise. The tornadoes also did not move in a straight line. Many of them looped back over their own path at least once.
Tornadoes Across the Midwest
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 29 |
The outbreak included 29 tornadoes over two days. Many states were affected.
On June 2, tornadoes caused damage in Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. For example, a strong F2 tornado in Allerton, Iowa, twisted a farmhouse off its foundation. Another F3 tornado near Waynetown, Indiana, killed one person when a trailer was destroyed. In Indianapolis, an F2 tornado damaged homes and caused a traffic accident.
On June 3, before the Grand Island storms, tornadoes hit states like Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland. An F4 tornado in Pennsylvania damaged a restaurant and stores. It injured 140 people. An F3 tornado in West Virginia and Maryland destroyed 28 homes. A two-year-old child was even thrown almost a mile but survived!
The Grand Island Twisters
Seven tornadoes hit Grand Island, Nebraska, on June 3. Here are details about these specific storms:
- F3 Tornado (01:45–02:34 UTC): This tornado was the first of seven to hit Grand Island. It touched down northwest of the city. Farm homes were torn apart. One woman died trying to drive to a relative's house. This tornado had a very unusual path, looping and crossing itself many times. It stayed on the ground for 49 minutes.
- F1 Tornado (02:00–02:12 UTC): This was a smaller, anticyclonic tornado. It briefly touched down on the northern edge of Grand Island. It caused some damage and injured five people.
- F3 Tornado (02:05–02:30 UTC): This tornado moved into Grand Island from the north. It injured 40 people and killed one. Homes were heavily damaged, and windows were blown out at a veteran's home. This was another anticyclonic tornado.
- F1 Tornado (02:46–02:50 UTC): This was the fourth tornado to hit the city. It touched down southeast of Grand Island and moved in a curving path. It was the last of the three anticyclonic tornadoes.
- F4 Tornado (03:16–03:28 UTC): This was a very powerful tornado. It touched down east of Grand Island and moved into the city. It then turned south, causing intense damage to businesses and homes along Locust Street. Some buildings were completely destroyed. This tornado caused over $200 million in damage and injured 110 people. Three people died from this storm. Its peak winds were estimated at 250 miles per hour.
- F2 Tornado (03:25–03:35 UTC): A large tornado touched down southeast of Grand Island. It caused significant damage in rural areas. It injured 18 people.
- F1 Tornado (04:00–04:30 UTC): This was the last of the seven tornadoes in the Grand Island area. It was a large tornado that tracked mostly across rural areas. It caused some damage and injured two people. Like others, it looped many times.
What Happened After?
The tornadoes in Grand Island, Nebraska, killed five people and injured 200. They caused over $285 million in damage. This would be about $1.02 billion today. In Nebraska, tornado warnings helped people get to safety. This prevented even more deaths.
The South Locust Street area in Grand Island was hit the hardest. The fifth tornado of the night, a powerful F4, struck this area. Much of the rubble and debris from the tornadoes was placed in a landfill. This landfill is now known as Tornado Hill. It is a popular spot for biking and sledding in Grand Island today.
Stories from the Storm
The Grand Island tornado outbreak has been featured in books and movies.
The Book: Night of the Twisters
In 1984, a book called Night of the Twisters was released. It was written by Ivy Ruckman, who is from Nebraska. The book is a fictional story based on the real tornado outbreak. It tells the story of a pre-teen boy named Danny Hatch and his family. It describes what happened to them during the storms.
The Movie: Night of the Twisters
The book later inspired a made-for-cable TV movie. The movie had the same name and premiered on February 14, 1996. It aired on The Family Channel (now Freeform). The movie also focused on the Hatch family. Most of the characters from the book were in the film.
However, there were some differences between the movie and the book. For example, the town in the movie was changed from Grand Island to a made-up town called Blainsworth. Ivy Ruckman, the author, was reportedly disappointed by this change. Danny's father's name was changed to Jack in the movie. It was also mentioned that he was Danny's stepfather. A character named Bob Iverson was in the movie but not in the book. Danny's mother's job was also changed to a waitress. The last scene in the movie, where the Hatch family tries to escape a tornado in a car, was added just for the film. It was not in the book. Danny and his friend Arthur were also shown as older teenagers in the movie.
See also
- List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
