Late-May 1998 tornado outbreak and derecho facts for kids
The Late May 1998 tornado outbreak and derecho was a big weather event that happened in the United States and southern Ontario, Canada. It took place on May 30 and 31, 1998. This powerful storm system brought many tornadoes and strong, widespread winds across a large area, from Montana all the way to the Mid-Atlantic states.
Contents
Powerful Storms
The Spencer, South Dakota Tornado
The first signs of severe weather began in Montana. Later, a very strong tornado hit the town of Spencer, South Dakota. This happened around 8:37 p.m. CDT. The Spencer tornado was rated an F4, which means it caused incredible damage. Sadly, six people lost their lives because of this tornado.
The Derecho Windstorm
The same storm system that created the Spencer tornado also caused a huge windstorm known as a "derecho." A derecho is like a very long-lasting, widespread thunderstorm that produces strong, damaging winds over a large area. This derecho swept across many states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and New York, as well as Ontario in Canada. The powerful winds from the derecho also caused six deaths.
Tornadoes in New York and Pennsylvania
On May 31, the storm system continued to cause trouble. Many tornadoes broke out across Pennsylvania and New York. These tornadoes were some of the most destructive to hit these two states since the major 1985 United States-Canada tornado outbreak.
Images for kids
-
This map from the National Weather Service shows the paths of tornadoes in southeast South Dakota.
