“Passion for Weather Sparked by Tornado Encounter”
Can you recall a specific moment when you knew what career path you wanted to pursue? For me, that moment came on April 7, 1980, exactly 45 years ago today. On that fateful day, an unexpected tornado swept through my hometown of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, forever altering the course of my life. Like many individuals who have faced natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, or severe storms, I can vividly recall every detail of that afternoon as if it unfolded just yesterday.
As my family and I were returning home from a shopping trip, the sky darkened ominously to the west, a sight I have yet to witness again with such intensity. Upon arriving home, we noticed the clouds racing in an unusual direction, from east to west. A panicked call from a family friend perched on a hill alerted us to the approaching tornado, though I never caught sight of it myself. With my sister spotting the twister, we hurriedly sought shelter under a shaky table, uttering a prayer as the deafening winds roared around us. In a matter of seconds, the tempest passed.
Thankfully, our home was spared significant damage, but neighboring structures weren’t as fortunate. A nearby garage and a house in the vicinity suffered varying degrees of destruction, while other parts of the city and county bore the brunt of the tornado’s wrath. Eyewitnesses later recounted how the tornado appeared to “split” or exhibit multiple vortices. Just over an hour after the tornado dissipated, Governor Lee Dreyfus and television crews descended upon our street. It was later revealed that the eminent tornado expert, Dr. Theodore Fujita, had personally assessed the aftermath.
This tornado, classified as an F3 on the Fujita scale, was a formidable force for early spring in southern Wisconsin. Though no lives were lost, 20 individuals sustained injuries, primarily concentrated in two heavily impacted mobile home parks. One chilling report documented a house with four occupants being lifted 35 feet in the air before disintegrating upon landing.
From that day onward, I harbored a mixture of fear and fascination for severe thunderstorms, solidifying my resolve to pursue a career in meteorology. That singular event served as a catalyst for the trajectory of my life. Throughout my professional journey, I’ve encountered fellow meteorologists whose passion for weather was ignited by childhood storm experiences, ranging from the April 1974 Super Outbreak to the 1983 Northeast Megalopolitan snowstorm and Hurricane Charley in 2004.
Reflecting on the tornado that touched down in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin on April 7, 1980, I, Jonathan Erdman, a seasoned meteorologist at weather.com since 1996, continue to delve into the realms of extreme and peculiar weather phenomena. Connect with me on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook to further explore weather intricacies and
