1989 Coldenham tornado
The collapsed wall, as seen after the tornado. | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Date | November 16, 1989 |
| Duration | 26 minutes |
| F1 tornado | |
| on the Fujita scale | |
| Highest winds | ~100 mph (160 km/h) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 9 (+1 indirect) |
| Injuries | 18 |
| Damage | $25 million (1989 USD) |
| Areas affected | Orange County, New York |
Part of the November 1989 tornado outbreak and Tornadoes of 1989 | |
In the afternoon hours of November 16, 1989, a relatively weak but deadly tornado moved north through Orange County, located in the state of New York. Despite causing relatively little damage for the majority of its path, late in its life the tornado blew down a free-standing cafeteria wall located at the East Coldenham Elementary School, killing nine students and injuring eighteen others. Though the event was officially recorded as a tornado, conclusive evidence from a survey by a team led by Ted Fujita and others indicates that it was likely a downburst instead, although the disaster is still officially attributed to this tornado.