On July 31, 1987, something very scary happened in the city of Edmonton. A giant tornado, known as the “Black Friday Tornado,” came crashing through the city. It was one of the worst disasters in Canada’s history. The tornado killed 27 people and hurt 600 more.
How It All Began.
It was a sunny Friday afternoon, and people in Edmonton were getting ready for the weekend. At around 3 p.m., something strange appeared in the sky. A dark, twisting cloud formed, spinning faster and faster. Soon, it touched down in the southeast part of the city, turning into a powerful tornado.
A Tornado’s Path of Destruction.
The tornado ripped through the city, traveling 37 kilometers and destroying everything in its path. It was so strong that it knocked down buildings, picked up cars, and flung them through the air. It made a loud, roaring noise, like a train passing by. Winds blew at 400 kilometers per hour—faster than a race car!
The worst-hit places were neighborhoods like Clareview, Strathcona Industrial Park, and the Evergreen mobile home park. People described how their houses were torn apart while they hid in their basements. Some said it looked like a giant shovel had flipped the ground upside down.
A Tornado Like No Other.
This tornado was one of the strongest kinds—an F4. Tornadoes are rated by how strong their winds are. F4 tornadoes are very rare and extremely powerful. They can even lift houses off the ground.
But the tornado wasn’t the only scary thing that week. Before it hit, Edmonton had already faced heavy storms. For three days, it rained a lot—so much that four rivers rose up very high. Huge hailstones, as big as tennis balls, also fell from the sky, hitting people and cars.
Caught in the Tornado.
That Friday, lots of people were driving on the Sherwood Park Freeway, ready to leave the city for the weekend. The radio announced a tornado warning, but it was too late for many to escape. The tornado swept right over the freeway, tossing cars around like toys.
Dale Campbell, one of the people on the freeway, shared what happened to him. “I got out of my car to help others, and the wind threw me 30 feet into a field,” he said. He and other survivors helped carry injured people to ambulances that arrived on the scene.
Miracle in the Storm.
Even in all the destruction, there were some amazing stories of survival. At the Evergreen mobile home park, a baby girl named Kristen was ripped from her grandfather’s arms by the strong winds. Her family searched everywhere, worried she was lost forever. But hours later, a stranger found her and took her to the police. Kristen was alive! She was taken to the hospital and was safe.
The Aftermath.
The Black Friday Tornado caused so much damage, and the city was in shock. Many people lost their homes, and some were too scared to go outside for a long time. The sound of thunder reminded them of that terrible day.
Making Changes for the Future.
Although this tornado was tragic, it also taught people in Edmonton and Alberta something important. After the disaster, Alberta created a special group called the Alberta Emergency Management Agency. This group helps keep people safe by warning them about dangerous weather and other emergencies. Now, Alberta is much better prepared to face storms and disasters.
The Black Friday Tornado of 1987 was a day that no one in Edmonton will ever forget. It was a scary time, but the city came together to rebuild and recover. Today, Edmonton is stronger because of the lessons learned from that terrible storm.
