The 1980 Kalamazoo tornado was an intense tornado that struck downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Tuesday, May 13, 1980. The tornado, which touched down at 4:09 pm, was rated F3 on the Fujita scale. The tornado killed 5 people and injured 79. Damage was estimated at $50,000,000, which included $1,800,000 in vehicle damage.
The tornado left a path of destruction 11 miles (18 km) long during its approximately 16-minute duration. It was notable for having struck the heart of downtown, damaging or destroying many notable buildings, parks, and landmarks. The massive F3 caused a power outage so extensive, phone companies pleaded for people to only use phones for emergencies. In total, the storm caused 5 deaths, 79 injuries, and about 1,200 people were left homeless.
An hour prior to the St. Augustine Elementary School being destroyed, all 328 students were sent home early thanks to adequate warning.
List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
The May 13, 1980 Kalamazoo Tornado Archived May 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine case study (Grand Rapids office of the National Weather Service)
Kalamazoo 1980 tornado MIGenWeb – Michigan Genealogy on the Web
1980 Kalamazoo Tornado Special, May 13: The Tragedy, The Aftermath., YouTube channel Blake Naftel, March 1, 2023 – WKZO-TV special report from May 18, 1980
The Kalamazoo Tornado – May 13, 1980, YouTube channel Legend813a, May 13, 2008