Grand Rapids Michigan Tornado

April 3, 1956

More twisters were captured on film in the 1950s than people think. This is rarely-seen footage of a tornado that struck Grand Rapids, MI on April 3rd, 1956 (over 50 years ago!). It was shot on 8mm film and rated F5.

Credit: Eugene Dohm

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• tornado
• storms
• stormchasers
• weather
• nature
• grand
• rapids
• michigan
• 1956
• 50s
• 1950s
• 1950's
• environment

[CobraKing619]

there are more rare tornado videos than people might think, I had no idea that the first film of a tornado was not the Corn, OK tornado in 1951 but of a tornado that hit Cuba in 1933 and who knows somebody might stumble upon some even rarer films of tornadoes

[Anticyclonic]

Oh hell yeah, there are tons of vids out there that have been rarely seen. I have footage of the Worcester tornado, and I KNOW I have the Cuba clip somewhere. One of these days I'm gonna have to brave the mountain of old VHS tapes I have (lots of which contain footage from old TV documentaries I taped over a decade ago) but it's such a pain in the ass.

[CobraKing619]

I've seen pictures of the Worcester tornado but I've never seen the film, and I have video of the Tulsa-Catoosa tornado where you can see clearly see the tornado before it later was wrapped in rain and dust. I also have footage of the Wichita Falls F5 on 1964, it was shot during a live newscast and has sound.

[Anticyclonic]

Cool! The 1964 Wichita F5 I do NOT think I have, I'm just trying to remember...no, I think the one I'm thinking of is from Geary, OK in either '61 or '63. I'll have to post that one. And I have a shitty 3-sec snippet of Lubbock 1970 that I wouldn't mind seeing more of. :o(

[matt7361]

No, that 1980 tornado you're thinking of went through Kalamazoo in 1980, it killed 5 people, I believe. I'm in Florida now and you haven't seen anything until you've experienced a hurricane.

[Anticyclonic]

I bet it's really crap-in-the-pants inducing to experience a hurricane. I saw this video a while ago where this family was hunkered down in their home and they taped the entire thing through the night. I think the guy's wife was in the hospital ready to give birth to their new baby.

What hurricanes have you been through?

[Despina838]

So hard to believe an F5 ever hit around this area. We never get tornadoes here in west Michigan. Anytime there are tornadoes in this state, they're usually brief F0 spinups.

[ricub1]

@Anticyclonic Is the Worcester Tornado footage you have the one taken in Southborough as the barn collapses over the filmer's head? (the Ray Davis film). Or is it the one taken from Rtes 9/20 at Northborough/Shrewsbury line? (the Resch film) - would be curious to see the latter - I have 2 stills from it but have never seen the film itself. Thanks -

[Trashfished]

I heard it hit the Westside and did millions of dollars woth of improvements.

[JulieNoWay]

Tornadoes, and hurricanes, were here before us. So we have to adapt to them. Cool clip. I love seeing things about tornadoes and hurricanes, yes i know their dangerous and destructive. I'm not saying I like that destructive part, but their cool to watch... i mean, they must be considering every time theres a storm of some sort people whip out there cameras and phones. lol.

[Metallocity]

@matt7361 well I've experienced a few so far lol

[AJTwister97]

@Anticyclonic u have footage of the Worchester tornado?!?!? why wont you upload it!?!?! plz for the love of all that is tornadoes PLZ UPLOAD IT!

[SHiiPoW]

Who ate 0:21! U EVIL NOOBS!

[alanrdowney]

@AnimeAspieFanatic No - the one that hit Flint was on June 8, 1953 and was an F5. The same weather system that hit Flint on June 8 also caused the Worcester, MA tornado (a strong F4) the next day.

[maggot6639]

@MegaJohnnywadd lolololol xD

[MegaJohnnywadd]

I remember this tornado I was getting a blowjob from my girlfriend......I remember the tornado snuck up on us and picked up our house and we woke up somewhere in Kansas I believe??????