Black Friday: The 1987 Edmonton Tornado

Episode 402: On July 31, 1987, an ordinary summer afternoon in Edmonton, Alberta, ended in catastrophe. A powerful tornado cut through the city’s southeast, killing 27 people and leaving entire neighbourhoods destroyed in minutes. In this episode, we examine the second-deadliest tornado in Canadian history through firsthand survivor accounts and direct statements from officials who faced a disaster few believed could happen in a major Canadian city. The day would later become known as “Black Friday,” a name repeated in municipal histories and anniversary coverage. On July 31 itself, it was still just another Friday afternoon.

Episode Sources:

Tornado, a report : Edmonton and Strathcona County, July 31st, 1987 : Alberta Public Safety Services
Edmonton Tornado (1987) | The Candian Encyclopedia
BELLWEATHER KENNELS CANADA - EDMONTON TORNADO 1987 by Tom Taylor
Edmonton Tornado | Wikipedia
The Edmonton Tornado | Environment Canada
Black Friday changed city, survivors | CBC News
This Was the Worst Tornado in Canada’s History | Reader’s Digest
Jul 30, 1988, page 92 - Edmonton Journal at Newspapers.com™
From the Edmonton community on Reddit
Edmonton Journal front page story of the Edmonton tornado July 31, 1987 (Black Friday)
Regina Cyclone | Wikipedia

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