BLACK FRIDAY
'The roof was caving in and I thought I was going to die. It was like your worst
nightmare!' said Mary Grandish. Most people think they will die when they see,or hear of
a tornado heading their way.
Although all the details of the formation of a tornado are not yet understood, it is
known that tornados are the result of great instability in the atmosphere and often appear
during severe thunderstorms (see appendix #1 for a scientific explaination on how it really
starts). Strong updrafts present in severe thunderstorms result in a rotational momentum.
Falling rain and/or snow probably drags air from aloft when it comes falling down. The
combination of severe thunderstorms and sweltering heat are the breeding grounds for a
tornados' formation. The first sign of a tornado is a strong dust whirlwind along with a
funnel growing from the storm cloud. A more organized funnel descends farther from the
cloud, sometimes even touching the ground.
Thunderstorm
A Herald Examiner headline covering the Great Tri-...
English: Radar image of the line of severe thunder...Funnel winds generally move
counterclockwise and the funnel can move slowly or at about 100/ft per second.
Eventually the tornado becomes fragmented and dissipates causing the end of the tornado.
Tornados are the cause of great destruction and devistation in the area in which
they occur. For example the Tri-State Tornado of 1925 occured in the Kansas, Oklahoma,
and Texas States. This tornado was one of the largest tornados recorded in history. It
killed nearly 625 people. However, the tornado which strikes closest to home has occured
on what Canadians have come to know as 'BLACK FRIDAY'.
The tornado of 'Black Friday' touched down on July 31st, 1987 at 2:59 pm. (See
appendix #2 for the torndo path). (See appendix #'s 4&5 for maps locating the disaster
sights). 27 people were killed; 25 people died during the...