Raleigh Tornado

Infobox tornado outbreak
name=Raleigh Tornado Outbreak
date=November 28, 1988
image location=


duration=~ 5 hours
fujitascale=F4
tornadoes=7
total damages (USD)= +$285 million (non-normalized)
total fatalities= 4
areas affected=North Carolina, Virginia

The Raleigh Tornado of November 28, 1988 was the most destructive of the seven tornadoes reported in northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia between 1:00 AM and 5:45 AM The Raleigh tornado produced over $77 million in damage, along with four fatalities (two in the city of Raleigh, and two in Nash County) and 154 injuries. The damage path from the storm was measured at convert|84|mi|km|0 long, and convert|.5|mi|km|1 wide at times.

Confirmed tornadoes

The Raleigh tornado

Rated at F4 strength (see Fujita scale), the Raleigh tornado touched down shortly after 1:00 AM on Monday, November 28 in Umstead State Park, between the western city limits of Raleigh and Raleigh-Durham International Airport. It was spawned by a high-precipitation supercell that formed east of Charlotte in the southern Piedmont region and began to exhibit severe and rotational characteristics as it crossed nearby Chatham County; earlier in the afternoon and evening, strong thunderstorms had been noted in the Charlotte area and also in the mountainous northwest corner of North Carolina. However, at 1:00 AM no severe thunderstorm or tornado watch had been issued for Raleigh and Wake County, NC. The weather conditions were believed to not be conducive to the development of such storms. [ [http://www4.ncsu.edu/~nwsfo/storage/cases/19881128/ Raleigh Tornado ] ]

Warnings were quickly issued as the storm began carving a path through suburban north Raleigh, damaging or destroying nearly 2500 residences and over 75 businesses including entire shopping centers. By 1:30 AM, the tornado had moved out of northern Wake County and into Franklin County, NC. Fluctuating between F1 and F3 in strength, the storm finally dissipated after crossing I-95 between Roanoke Rapids and the Virginia state line. Overall, four people were killed, including 2 children in Raleigh. Over 157 people were injured as a result of the storms. [ [http://www4.ncsu.edu/~nwsfo/storage/cases/19881128/ Raleigh Tornado ] ]

Additional tornadoes

Shortly after the Raleigh tornado formed, a second supercell produced a weak (F1) tornado near Alberta, VA and I-85.

After the Raleigh tornado dissipated, the parent supercell spawned a weaker second tornado (F2) that caused minor damage in a brief touchdown near Seaboard, NC. The storm then spawned a third (also F2) tornado that produced $500,000 in damage in Southampton County, VA, Isle Of Wight County, VA, and the City of Franklin, VA.

Meanwhile, a third supercell later produced weak (F0 and F1) tornadoes in Pamlico County, NC, Hyde County, NC, and the Manteo area on Roanoke Island in Dare County, NC.

ee also

*List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks

References

*Jarvis, C. (1988, November 29). Recovering from surprise tornadoes. "United Press International"
*Thompson, M. S. (1988, November 29) Twisters Rip N. Carolina; 4 Killed, Scores Injured; First Storm Struck Area With No Warning. "Washington Post", p. A3.
*Jarvis, C. (1988, November 30). Tornado had winds up to 200 mph. "United Press International"

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDueNSZfymM News coverage from WRAL-TV, 11/28/88]