1988 Raleigh tornado facts for kids
The 1988 Raleigh tornado was a very strong and damaging storm that hit North Carolina in the United States on November 28, 1988. A tornado is a powerful, spinning column of air that touches the ground. This particular storm was part of a larger group of tornadoes that struck North Carolina and Virginia early in the morning, between 1:00 a.m. and 5:45 a.m.
How the Storm Started
Before the tornado hit, the weather was unusually warm and humid for late November. Temperatures were in the 70s Fahrenheit (around 21-26 Celsius). Weather experts at the National Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSCFC) were already watching the eastern United States. They thought there might be some strong storms coming.
The Tornado Strikes
A line of thunderstorms was seen near Charlotte during the afternoon and evening. These storms moved across nearby Chatham County. Even though strong storms were happening, no tornado warning was given for the Raleigh-Durham area right away.
The tornado began to touch down at 1:00 a.m. on Monday, November 28. It was rated as an F4 on the Fujita scale. This means it was a very powerful tornado, with winds between 207 and 260 miles per hour (333 and 418 kilometers per hour).
Warnings were quickly sent out as the storm moved through northern Raleigh. It caused a lot of damage, hurting or destroying almost 2,500 homes and more than 75 businesses, including whole shopping centers.
By 1:30 a.m., the tornado had moved out of northern Wake County and into Franklin County, North Carolina. As it traveled, its strength changed, sometimes being an F1 (weaker) and sometimes an F3 (stronger). The storm finally broke apart after crossing Interstate 95 in North Carolina near Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina and the Virginia border.
Sadly, four people died because of the tornado. Two children, 9-year-old Janet Barnes and 12-year-old Pete Fulghum, died in Raleigh. A couple also died in their mobile home in Nash County.
In total, the tornado destroyed 425 homes and 78 businesses, including a K-Mart store. More than 157 people were also hurt. After this big tornado, other tornadoes also broke out across North Carolina and Virginia.
