A destructive tornado outbreak struck a wide swath of the Southern and Eastern United States as well as Canada on November 15 and 16, 1989. It produced at least 40 tornadoes and caused 30 deaths as a result of two deadly tornadoes. The most devastating event was the Huntsville, Alabama F4 tornado, which killed 21 on the afternoon of November 15. Nine more fatalities occurred at a single elementary school by an F1 tornado on November 16 in Newburgh, New York, although further survey revealed that this might have been a downburst instead. This outbreak also produced the most tornadoes in a single day in New Jersey, later tied on April 1, 2023. Several other significant tornadoes were reported across 15 states.
Meteorological synopsis
Historically, tornadoes are relatively common in north Alabama, where Huntsville and Madison County are located. The region was affected by the 1974 Super Outbreak, and records show that Madison County has had 25 tornadoes from 1950 through October 1989.
The Zone and Local Forecasts issued during the early morning, Tuesday, November 14, mentioned the possibility of severe thunderstorms on Wednesday. Subsequent forecasts and statements marked with increasing certainty the ominous nature of the events to come.
The National Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC) issued a Public Severe Weather Outlook at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and highlighted the unusually strong potential for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over the Tennessee Valley. The Birmingham Forecast Office followed with a Special Weather Statement at 10:50 a.m. with the headline, "MAJOR SEVERE WEATHER THREAT POISED FOR ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA!".
A Tornado Watch was in effect for Madison and adjacent counties from 12:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Soon after the issuance of the watch, emergency management officials, storm spotters and the NWS staff at Huntsville placed into effect a coordinated plan of action in accordance with established procedures. Beginning at 12:45 p.m., WSO Huntsville issued warnings for the west part of its county warning area as an intense squall line moved into northwest Alabama. Storm spotters reported large hail and intense straight-line wind associated with this squall line.
At the time the tornado struck Huntsville, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning was in effect for Madison County. That warning, issued at 4:13 p.m., was changed to a Tornado Warning at 4:35 p.m. based on a report relayed through the amateur radio spotter network of a tornado touchdown in the city. Critical weather information was disseminated over the NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) and NWR and by many media outlets in Huntsville and adjacent areas providing the public with frequent weather updates on radio and "crawls" and live "cut-ins" on television. Links with spotter groups and emergency management and law enforcement officials worked well.
Confirmed tornadoes
November 15 event
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
|+ List of reported tornadoes – Wednesday, November 15, 1989
|-
! scope="col" width="3%" align="center"|F#
! scope="col" width="7%" align="center" class="unsortable"|Location
! scope="col" width="6%" align="center" class="unsortable"|County / Parish
! scope="col" width="5%" align="center"|State
! scope="col" width="6%" align="center"|Time (UTC)
! scope="col" width="6%" align="center"|Path length
! scope="col" width="6%" align="center"|Max width
! scope="col" width="48%" class="unsortable" align="center"|Summary
|-
|bgcolor=# | F0
|Lepanto
|Poinsett
|AR
|1730
|
|
|Most of the roof was removed from the gymnasium at Lepanto High School, and several homes sustained minor roof damage.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F1
|NW of Henning
|Lauderdale
|TN
|1830–1835
|
|
|Two homes were damaged and numerous sheds and outbuildings were destroyed.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F2
|Trenton
|Gibson
|TN
|1855–1901
|
|
|A few homes sustained roof damage, a patio was torn up, and numerous trees and several power lines were downed.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F1
|SE of Ashland
|Clay
|AL
|2020
|
|
|One house was destroyed in the Mellow Valley area, and the three occupants were injured.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F2
|NE of Greenwood
|Greenwood
|SC
|2034
|
|
|47 homes were damaged in a subdivision, four of which were unroofed. One person was injured.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F2
|NNE of Ashley to S of Lexington
|Morrow, Richland
|OH
|2100–2127
|
|
|Many homes and barns were damaged, and numerous trees were downed in Morrow County. The tornado crossed into Richland County east of Shauck, taking a roof off a home and destroying a second home and a mobile home south of Lexington.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F1
|SW of Falmouth
|Pendleton
|KY
|2109
|
|
|Two mobile homes were destroyed, and the roof of an old school was ripped off in the community of Morgan. Two people were injured in one of the mobile homes.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F1
|Oliver
|Screven
|GA
|2145
|
|
|A mobile home was carried about from its foundation, with parts of it being blown up to away. Three houses sustained roof damage, and numerous trees were downed. The five occupants of the mobile home were injured.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F0
|De Kalb
|Kemper
|MS
|2150
|
|
|Two homes were destroyed. 15 other homes or barns were damaged. Several trees were downed. Listed as F2 by Grazulis.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F4
|Huntsville to NE of Brownsboro
|Madison
|AL
|2230–2250
|
|
|21 deaths – See section on this tornado – 463 people were injured.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F0
|E of Roanoke
|Randolph
|AL
|2243
|
|
|Several mobile homes were damaged.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F1
|Stevenson
|Jackson
|AL
|2355
|
|
|Several mobile homes and vehicles were destroyed, a school roof was damaged, and large steel utility towers were twisted.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F2
|NW of Rome
|Floyd
|GA
|0005
|
|
|The tornado touched down near Coosa before moving across Simms Mountain and into Big Texas Valley. Many homes were damaged along the path, and numerous barns and outbuildings were either damaged or destroyed, along with multiple vehicles. In Big Texas Valley, one mobile home was overturned and another was heavily damaged. A large house about away from the second mobile home was demolished and six vehicles were destroyed. Many trees were downed along the path. One person sustained minor injuries. Caused $2,000,000 in damage.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F2
|SE of Palmetto
|Coweta, Fulton
|GA
|0025
|
|
|Several homes were damaged and a poolhouse sustained significant damage south of Palmetto. Two mobile home parks were damaged near the Coweta–Fulton county line.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F3
|W of Clarkesville to WSW of Tallulah Falls
|Habersham
|GA
|0030
|
|
|Six homes were destroyed, and six others were heavily damaged. Businesses were destroyed, and three mobile homes were flattened. Seventeen large chicken houses were destroyed at a poultry farm, killing 250,000 birds. Considerable damage occurred in the communities of Stonepile and New Liberty. Three people were injured. The tornado was up to wide and caused $1,000,000 in damage.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F2
|E of Palmetto
|Coweta, Fulton
|GA
|0045
|
|
|This tornado struck the same mobile home parks just impacted by the first Palmetto tornado, resulting in several injuries. In total, 72 trailers were either damaged or destroyed, and 50 site-built homes were damaged. Numerous vehicles were either damaged or destroyed, and a few businesses were damaged as well. Four tractor-trailers were flipped on Interstate 85, injuring the drivers. Another injury occurred when a car was rolled for . A mobile news van was thrown by the tornado as well. At a truck stop, gas pumps were uprooted, spilling gas on the lots. Numerous trees were downed along the path. Fourteen people were injured in total. Caused $1,200,000 in damage.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F1
|S of Cleveland
|Bradley
|TN
|0045–0051
|
|
|An older unoccupied building was levelled, several outbuildings were destroyed, and a brick chimney on a house was destroyed. Numerous trees were downed.
|-
|}
November 16 event
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
|+ List of reported tornadoes – Thursday, November 16, 1989
|-
! scope="col" width="3%" align="center"|F#
! scope="col" width="7%" align="center" class="unsortable"|Location
! scope="col" width="6%" align="center" class="unsortable"|County / Parish
! scope="col" width="5%" align="center"|State
! scope="col" width="6%" align="center"|Time (UTC)
! scope="col" width="6%" align="center"|Path length
! scope="col" width="6%" align="center"|Max width
! scope="col" width="48%" class="unsortable" align="center"|Summary
|-
|bgcolor=# | F1
|Lyndhurst/Rutherford
|Bergen
|NJ
|1720
|
|
|Damage details unavailable.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F0
|Linden
|Union
|NJ
|1725
|
|
|Damage details unavailable.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F0
|W of Long Lake
|Hamilton
|NY
|1730
|
|
|Damage details unavailable.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F1
|Porter Corners
|Saratoga
|NY
|1820
|
|
|Damage details unavailable. One person was injured.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F1
|S of Corinth
|Saratoga
|NY
|1850
|
|
|Damage details unavailable.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F0
|Buskirk
|Rensselaer
|NY
|1930
|
|
|Damage details unavailable.
|-
|bgcolor=# | F2
|Mont-Saint-Hilaire
|La Vallée-du-Richelieu
|QC
|Unknown
|Unknown
|Unknown
|One of the latest season tornadoes ever reported in Canada. Caused $2,000,000 in damage to the community.
|-
|}
Huntsville, Alabama
On the afternoon of Wednesday, November 15, at 4:35 p.m. CST (21:35 UTC), this violent and deadly tornado struck the southern portion of the city of Huntsville, cutting a swath of destruction from southwest toward the northeast through a business section and a heavily populated residential area. Also known as the Airport Road tornado, it took a total of 21 lives as a result of the tornado and 463 were injured. Eighteen people died in the immediate aftermath of the tornado, with two other people dying in early December and another passing away in January from injuries sustained in the tornado. Total damage estimates were placed around $100 million.
Official records state that this weak but deadly F1 tornado touched down to the south in Monroe at approximately 12:31 p.m. EST (17:31 UTC), moving north for around to the East Coldenham area.
See also
- List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of Storm Prediction Center high risk days
- List of tornado-related deaths at schools List of tornado-related deaths at schools
- 1995 Anderson Hills tornado
References
External links
<!--There were 17 other tornadoes reported in the outbreak across a large swath of the eastern United States that day. In Canada, there was a rare November tornado, rated F2, that occurred in the town of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec east of Montreal, causing 2 million dollars in damage.[http://www.criacc.qc.ca/climat/suivi/tornade_f.html] While none were nearly as severe as the Huntsville tornado, there were many injuries reported in some of them. [http://www.spc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin-spc/getsevereplot.pl?Month=11&Day=15&Year=1989]-->