On This Day: July 5
Tornado Talk Summary
During the early morning hours of July 5, 1978, a family of tornadoes moved through parts of Norman, Mahnomen, Polk and Clearwater Counties in Minnesota. Officially, the SPC Database lists a rating of F2. Thomas Grazulis though has a rating of F3. It was a devastating event that covered 55-60 miles or more (there are discrepancies on the path length). Four fatalities were reported and 40+ injuries. Read the full summary here!
SIGTOR Spotlight
Highlighting a Tornado Before 1950
from Significant Tornadoes by Thomas Grazulis!
July 5, 1643: From Grazulis about an event in Essex County, MA: “According to the journal of the Governor of Masschusetts, a Native American Indian was killed by a falling tree during a ‘sudden gust’ – A meeting house was also destroyed. While many books list this as the first recorded American tornado, it was probably a gust front or downburst-type storm.”
Twister From The 2000s
On this day in 2000, an F3 tornado devastated a farm near Fleming, CO. All buildings, including the farmhouse, were destroyed, vehicles and farm machinery were tossed and destroyed, and a corn field was scoured. Other farms sustained damage, as well, and two people were injured. Source.
Weather Rewind
Tornado and Other Weather Events From On This Day
On this day in 1984, a family of four F2 tornadoes that were embedded within a 17-mile long by 3-mile wide downburst tracked through parts of Berks and Lehigh Counties, PA, from near Fleetwood to Macgunie. Grazulis rates one of the tornadoes F3. The tornadoes and downbursts destroyed six homes and severely damaged 40 houses, with minor damage to dozens of other homes and buildings. Source: Significant Tornadoes 1880-1989.
Pieces of the Past
A Look Back Through The Ages! On This Day In History!
Historical Event
On this day in 1994: Amazon.com founded in Bellevue, Washington by Jeff Bezos. Check out more historical events at onthisday.com!
Famous Birthday
P.T. Barnum was born July 5, 1810, in Bethel, Connecticut. He was a showman who employed sensational forms of presentation and publicity to popularize such amusements as the public museum, the musical concert, and the three-ring circus. In partnership with James A. Bailey, he made the American circus a popular and gigantic spectacle, the so-called Greatest Show on Earth. He died in 1891. Source: Britannica.
Film & TV
On this day in 1989: “Seinfield” (originally titled The Seinfeld Chronicles” screens its pilot episode starring Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Michael Richards on NBC. Get more daily history at onthisday.com!
Music Trivia
On this day in 1986: Janet Jackson started a two-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Control’. The album featured the hit singles: ‘What Have You Done for Me Lately’, ‘Nasty’, ‘Control’, ‘When I Think of You’, and ‘Let’s Wait Awhile’. Get into the groove with more music trivia at thisdayinmusic.com!
Photo of the Day
