The Kalamazoo Tornado - May 13, 1980


The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch at 1:30 p.m., which went into effect at 2:30 p.m. and was to remain in effect until 8:30 p.m. A severe thunderstorm with hail up to one inch in diameter was reported in the South Haven area of Van Buren county at 3:30 p.m. and a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Van Buren and Allegan counties at 3:35 p.m. This event was followed by the touchdown of a tornado about four miles west of Glendale, in Van Buren County, at approximately 3:40 p.m. The tornado's path was eight miles long and was approximately 650 yards wide. Although no people were killed in Van Buren County, twenty people were injured and there was seven million dollar's worth of property damage. Twenty-four homes were destroyed and another 85 underwent varying degrees of damage. Twelve mobile homes were destroyed and another six were damaged. The Glendale Baptist Church near Paw Paw was destroyed.The thunderstorm was moving across eastern Van Buren county to the east northeast at about 40 m.p.h. before it began to turn to the right and move in an east southeasterly direction near the Kalamazoo county line. At 3:50 p.m. a funnel cloud was reported 14 miles west of the city of Kalamazoo. At4 p.m., the Kalamazoo tornado touched down seven miles west of downtown Kalamazoo, at which time a tornado warning was issued and the civil defense sirens were activated in the city. Its path was about eleven miles long and 100 yards wide. Five people were killed, 79 were injured, and total damage was estimated at 50 million dollars (in 1980 currency).




Galesburg Kalamazoo Parchment Portage Augusta Climax Richland Schoolcraft Vicksburg Alamo Township Brady Township Charleston Township Climax Township Comstock Township Cooper Township Kalamazoo Charter Township Oshtemo Township Pavilion Township
Prairie Ronde Township Richland Township Ross Township Schoolcraft Township Texas Township Wakeshma Township Comstock Northwest Eastwood Greater Galesburg South Gull Lake Westwood Barry County Allegan County Calhoun County Van Buren County Branch County St. Joseph County Cass County

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Channel: News
Uploaded: May 13, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Author: Legend813a

Length: 00:06:42
Rating: 4.71
Views: 2384

Tags: 13 pictures thunderstorm damage weather kalamazoo may michigan tornado 1980 051380

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Video Comments:
suckerforsweettalk (November 11, 2008 at 9:17 pm)
my grandpa was in that. when it hit, he was in church, and there was no warnings, so he did not have many places to go. what happend was, he dove under a coat rack, and that is what protected him from all the glass and stuff. the churches chimney fell on his car, so he walked home(because he wanted to see if his 5 children were OK) so when he got there, the neighbors house had been turned 180 degrees! it was kinda a mircle. all that had to be re-done was the piping.his house and kids were OK too
drooooopy (October 14, 2008 at 9:35 am)
I have heard a lot about this tornado (I didn't live in the area at the time but its still talked about). Thank you for this video on it.
igettig (October 11, 2008 at 2:45 pm)
Actually, it was a Tuesday. I was in 5th grade and remember vividly the destruction and impact to the community. School was out for the rest of the week. I do wish there was some kind of soundtrack for this video though. It would make it easier to watch. Nice job though. Pictures are worth a thousand words.
bhite41 (October 10, 2008 at 9:31 am)
it was also Friday the 13th. Lucky more people were not killed, remember that a school had let its kids out before it struck.

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