Tornadoes of 1989
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2021) |
 Huntsville tornado damage | |
| Timespan | January–December 1989 |
|---|---|
| Maximum rated tornado | F4 tornado
|
| Tornadoes in U.S. | 856[1] |
| Damage (U.S.) | unknown |
| Fatalities (U.S.) | 50[2] |
| Fatalities (worldwide) | >1,300 |
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1989, primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S., although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
Synopsis
1989 was an average year in terms of numbers of tornadoes and fatalities. May and June both saw over 200 tornadoes and after the usual summer lull, a significant November outbreak led to the devastating Huntsville, Alabama F4 tornado. There were three tornadoes in Nevada including an F0 on June 7 and two F1 tornadoes on September 17 and October 14, (both in Clark County) which is an unusually high number for the state.
Events
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 369 | 364 | 102 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 856 |
January
There were 14 tornadoes confirmed in the US in January.
January 7
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A small tornado outbreak impacted parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Mississippi. An F4 tornado destroyed dozens of homes and businesses in Allendale, Illinois before moving into Indiana, injuring 55 people. An F2 tornado injured six people along an intermittent path in eastern Illinois, destroying six homes and damaging 46 in Mill Shoals. Another F2 tornado caused significant damage in the business district of Prairie, Mississippi.[3][4]
February
There were 18 tornadoes confirmed in the US in February.
February 20–21
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
An outbreak brought 17 tornadoes to the Southern United States on February 20 and 21. Four F2 tornadoes touched down in northeastern Mississippi and northwestern Alabama. One caused significant damage near Sulligent, Alabama on February 20. All six tornadoes that touched down the next day were weak. An F0 tornado injured one person north of Dillon, South Carolina. [3][5][6]
March
There were 43 tornadoes confirmed in the US in March.
April
There were 82 tornadoes confirmed in the US in April.
April 3
An F3 tornado hit Fort Branch, Indiana. Although there were no fatalities, eight people were injured and damage was estimated between 5 and 50 million dollars.[7]
April 26 (Bangladesh)
An extremely destructive and deadly tornado struck the Manikganj District in central Bangladesh. The tornado affected the cities of Daulatpur and Saturia the most, moving east through Daulatpur and eventually northeast and into Saturia. In total, this tornado killed an estimated 1,300 people making it the deadliest single tornado in world history.[8]
May
There were 231 tornadoes confirmed in the US in May, including seven F4 tornadoes.
May 5
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
A deadly outbreak spawned 17 tornadoes in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, and was responsible for a combined total of $169 million in damage in the four states. It also caused seven deaths and 168 injuries.
May 24
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 16 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
On May 24, an outbreak brought 29 tornadoes to the Upper Midwest. An F4 tornado destroyed a farm near Prescott, Iowa, scattering three hundred pigs across a field. A second F4 tornado destroyed two farms east of Liscomb, Iowa. This storm injured three people on one farm according to Thomas P. Grazulis, but no injuries are listed in official records. An F2 tornado destroyed a home and several outbuildings near Cainsville, Missouri. All other tornadoes in this outbreak were weak, rated F0 or F1.[3][9]
June
There were 252 tornadoes confirmed in the US in June.
June 8
Two tornadoes killed five people in Florida and Louisiana.
July
There were 59 tornadoes confirmed in the US in July.
July 10
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
A series of tornadoes caused more than $130 million (1989 USD) in damage across the Northeastern United States on July 10. The storm system affected five states with severe weather, including hail up to 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) in diameter, thunderstorm winds up to 90 mph (150 km/h), and 17 tornadoes.
August
There were 36 tornadoes confirmed in the US in August.
September
There were 31 tornadoes confirmed in the US in September.
October
There were 30 tornadoes confirmed in the US in October.
November
There were 57 tornadoes confirmed in the US in November.
November 15–16
| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 15 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
A destructive tornado outbreak affected a large swath of the southern and eastern United States as well as Canada in Mid-November. It produced at least 41 tornadoes and caused 30 deaths as a result of two deadly tornadoes. The most devastating tornado occurred in Huntsville, Alabama, when an F4 tornado killed 21 people on the afternoon of the 15th. Nine of the people killed in Huntsville were in cars. Nine more fatalities were reported at a single elementary school by an F1 tornado on the 16th in Newburgh, New York (although analysis has concluded that this was more likely the result of a downburst). Several other significant tornadoes were reported across 15 states.
December
There were 3 tornadoes confirmed in the US in December.
See also
- Tornado
- List of tornado outbreaks
- List of F5 and EF5 tornadoes
- List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of 21st-century Canadian tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of European tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks in Asia
- List of Southern Hemisphere tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of tornadoes striking downtown areas
- Tornado intensity
References
- ^ "U.S. Annual Tornado Maps (1952 - 2011): 1989 Tornadoes". Storm Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
- ^ "Tornadoes in 1989". Tornado History Project. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
- ^ a b c Grazulis, Thomas P. (1993). Significant tornadoes, 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: Environmental Films. pp. 1285–1290. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
- ^ Lietz, Joshua. "Tornadoes on January 7 , 1989". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- ^ Lietz, Joshua. "Tornadoes on February 20, 1989". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ Lietz, Joshua. "Tornadoes on February 21, 1989". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ "Tornado History Project: 19890403.18.5". www.tornadohistoryproject.com.
- ^ Finch, Jonathan. "Tornados in Bangladesh and East India". National Weather Service. Bangladesh tornadoes. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
- ^ Lietz, Joshua. "Tornadoes on May 24, 1989". Tornado History Project. Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
External links
- U.S. tornadoes in 1989 - Tornado History Project
- Tornado deaths monthly