1990-08-28 Plainfield, IL

[Ryan Witek]

Somewhere in my files I've got a post on sci.geo.meteorology from that day... Purdue had just started back up, and we had a few ready to chase NW Indiana. Severe weather was likely that day, but the low became so intense that all the convergence occurred near the low itself and nothing along any of the fronts. As I recall, that was the only storm of the day, so too far away.

The only people "chasing" were public safety officials, and everyone either 1) didn't recognize it as a tornado or 2) assumed notifications were occurring upstream so 3) never reported it.

Unfortunately, the Plainfield Tornado was an example of when we were collectively caught off guard... Between the lack of a warning from NWS until the storm had passed and the fact that it was a warm, sunny August afternoon, it's safe to assume that most people weren't exactly looking to the skies that day.

Adding onto your note about the "chasing" that happened that day - this is something that we need to constantly be wary of. Despite the tornado likely being rain-wrapped, it is likely someone (civilian or other) saw the storm, perhaps in its early stages. We all know the storm was big - and I think we can all relate to the thought "Oh goodness that thing is massive..! No way that nobody else has reported it yet..." and thus failing to report the storm. Long story short, its the bystander effect. And unfortunately, on that day, it may have cost lives.

Hopefully, with communities like the one here at StormTrack will help educate people to know better - sometimes it is better to get too many reports on a storm than not enough. If this sort of storm were ever to occur again, I'm one person who would really appreciate a heads up!

 

[rdale]

Thanks... To clarify - it was spotted by many in public safety and some public. They reported to their dispatch centers, but none of those sources contacted the NWS until long afterwards.

 

[rachelgkonkle]

On the eve of the 30th anniversary of the storm, I'd like to share the Plainfield Public Library's collection of first-person accounts, interviews and photos Tornado Photos - Plainfield Public Library

 

[Clayton t gillaspy]

I’m a new member here guys and gals and a long time storm enthusiast going back to the mid 60’s my dads best friend Ron bacon took the famous pic of the April 21,1967 oak lawn tornado I was in Niles that day I don’t remember the weather being too bad in Niles no tornado just severe t-STM’s I was only a teen at the time and that tornado started my severe weather fascination which goes to today I see a lot of comments here about the worst tornados in American history and the Plainfield monster of 1990 isn’t even mentioned well it should be as it was the storm that others are measured against it reached almost f-6 strength although only for a mile or so even after it weakened slightly upon entering Plainfield it was still ultra violent and at times was up to a mile wide I’ve seen many comments that it was one of the weakest f-5 tornados on record not so! It was similar to jarrell in the unusual conditions it formed in and the direction but it had incredible cape that day over 8000jks. And a lifted index of -14 -16 it too bad nobody got film of it as it was an historic tornado stronger than zenia 74 I live today not far from Plainfield wasn’t there that fateful day

 

[rdale]

Good to have you Clayton - that was a big one! I was out chasing that day in Indiana and missed out...

Quick note though - there is no such thing as F6 destruction so it really wasn't "almost" that strong. While Dr Fujita listed that in his scale, it wasn't for measurement purposes.

 

[Brian McWatters]

Here is video of the August 28, 1990 supercell in DeKalb, IL about 30 minutes before it produced the Plainfield tornado.

And here is a page that NWS Chicago made for the 30th anniversary of the tornado.
https://www.weather.gov/lot/Plainfield_Tornado_Anniversary