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Edmonton tornado

The Edmonton tornado, also known as Black Friday, was a destructive F4 tornado that struck eastern Edmonton and nearby Strathcona County, Alberta, on 31 July 1987.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Edmonton tornado, also known as Black Friday, was a destructive F4 tornado that struck eastern Edmonton and nearby Strathcona County, Alberta, on 31 July 1987. It killed 27 people, injured hundreds, and caused major damage, making it one of the deadliest and most destructive tornadoes in Canadian history.

Background

The Edmonton tornado struck during a day that produced multiple tornadoes in central Alberta. The event became widely known as Black Friday because of the scale of the destruction and loss of life.

Path and intensity

The tornado moved through the eastern parts of Edmonton and into Strathcona County, affecting areas including industrial districts. Sources describe it as an F4 tornado, with some reports noting peak winds near the top of the F4 range.

Impact

The tornado killed 27 people, injured hundreds, and destroyed or damaged many homes and buildings. The disaster caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and is regarded as one of Canada's worst natural disasters.

Legacy

The tornado is remembered as the deadliest in Alberta's history and the second deadliest in Canada after the Regina Cyclone. It remains a major reference point in Canadian severe-weather history and emergency planning.

Key facts

  • The Edmonton tornado struck on 31 July 1987 and became known as Black Friday.
  • It was rated F4 on the Fujita scale, indicating violent damage.
  • The tornado killed 27 people and injured more than 300.
  • It destroyed more than 300 homes and caused over C$330 million in damage.
  • It remains Alberta's deadliest tornado and one of the deadliest in Canadian history.
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Canadian context

It is a major event in Canadian weather history and is especially significant for Alberta residents because it remains the deadliest tornado in Alberta and one of the deadliest in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Edmonton tornado?
It struck on 31 July 1987, in the afternoon.
How strong was the Edmonton tornado?
It was rated F4 on the Fujita scale.
How many people died in the Edmonton tornado?
27 people died.
What caused the Edmonton tornado?
It was caused by a severe thunderstorm system that produced multiple tornadoes in central Alberta that day.
What was the path of the Edmonton tornado?
It tracked through eastern Edmonton and parts of Strathcona County, with a path about 30.8 km long and up to about 1.3 km wide.
What is the F4 rating of the Edmonton tornado?
F4 is the Fujita-scale category for a violent tornado; it indicates devastating damage and is the second-highest category on that scale.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton_tornado
    Supports: Date, Black Friday nickname, F4 rating, fatalities, injuries, path length, and damage estimates.
  2. The Canadian Encyclopedia — https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edmonton-tornado-1987
    Supports: Date, location, F4 rating, fatalities, injury estimate, duration, and damage.
  3. Canadian Red Cross — https://www.redcross.ca/history/artifacts/tornado-a-report
    Supports: Black Friday naming, F4 tornado description, fatalities, and severe damage.
  4. Government of Alberta — https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/b24eb45e-d9e4-4f87-b25d-56f8d9e969fb/resource/330a7c39-1108-4ec6-9ecd-846fc43b0a29/download/2007-11-fire-news.pdf
    Supports: Date, fatalities, injuries, damage, track length, and width.