August 28, 1990 supercell in DeKalb, IL

Approximately 30 minutes after this video was taken, it would produce a devastating EF-5 tornado in Crest Hill, Plainfield, and Joliet, IL. The most striking features for storm chasers and meteorologists occur right at and near the beginning, as the thunderstorm approaches. This video was shot around 2:45 PM CT.

In the opening shot, you are looking north-northwest towards Rockford, IL...after a few seconds, it jumps to looking almost straight west towards Malta, IL, seen in the distance briefly before rain blocks the view. The final shot is looking east over the football playing area, and hail can be heard in the final few seconds of the video, which would quickly grow to golfball size. Yes, he now knows it wasn't a brilliant idea to go up there and do this...but this nevertheless documents a missing piece of the puzzle to a historic weather day in northern and northeastern Illinois.

This video contains adult language and intense storm video, therefore parental guidance is suggested. Courtesy of videographer Jay Orbik, who is now the Director of Media Services at Northern Illinois University. Uploaded by permission of the author; in the public domain.

WARNING: Contains adult language and intense storm video. Parental guidance is therefore suggested.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Plainfield
• Tornado
• DeKalb
• Illinois
• supercell
• thunderstorm

[sebenste]

Thanks for commenting, Jay. Thanks for being honest---as Jay says, do NOT try this at home...but while Jay won't do this again, it's an inadvertently historical video. And I doubt we'll see any footage of the tornado, as it was completely buried in rain. People who were hit by it and survived said they couldn't see it. And even if they did have a video camera, all I think we would see is a wall of rain. This is as close to the start of the tornado that you'll see of it, methinks.

[ThePostal67]

That was the dumbest thing I ever saw anyone do, wish I could have been there... I walk in storms! 

[bdkennedy1]

Amazing!

[sweethotcandy29]

I so remember this storm. I watched from my off campus apartment.

[dabearsfan4life]

This is cool how it is shot from on top of Stevenson Tower resident hall at Northern Illinois University.

[supdog1018]

THUMBS UP IF YOU LIVE IN DEKALB

[castleromeo]

There is footage of the Plainfield Tornado alas it shows the storm as a funnel cloud developing over Normantown, IL. The Plainfield Tornado was only 100-200 yards wide which is extremely rare for an EF5 as most  EF5's are 1/3 of a mile wide or greater. Perhaps footage of the tornado exists somewhere tucked away waiting to be discovered........

[stevezur]

Amazing rare footage of this day.

[jenniferwarren76]

I survived the Plainfield tornado on August 28, 1990. I lived on Prieboy Avenue, in Joliet, near the mall. I was taking care of my little brother and sister, when we saw a wall of rolling clouds, pulling the trees from the ground as if the trees were only toothpicks. Seconds later, as we ran for the basement, the house was gone around us. Surreal to see this footage and know it came just minutes before our lives changed forever.

[jenniferwarren76]

I survived the Plainfield tornado on August 28, 1990. I lived on Prieboy Avenue, in Joliet, near the mall. I was taking care of my little brother and sister, when we saw a wall of rolling clouds, pulling the trees from the ground as if the trees were only toothpicks. Seconds later, as we ran for the basement, the house was gone around us. We landed in the basement, luckily, with only minor injuries. Surreal to see this footage and know it came just minutes before our lives changed forever.