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Tornado Strength - Fujita Scale

 

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale was devised by a panel of meteorologists and engineers convened by the Wind Science and Engineering Research Center at Texas Tech University. The Weather Channel's severe weather expert Dr. Greg Forbes was on the team of experts who determined the revised wind speed ranges.

 

The original Fujita Scale was devised in 1971 by "Mr. Tornado," Dr. Ted Fujita, of The University of Chicago. It gave ratings of F0 to F5 based upon the type and severity of damage the tornado produced. At that time there were very few actual measurements of tornado wind speeds that he could relate to the damage, but he used them -- together with a lot of insight -- to devise approximate wind speed ranges for each damage category.

 

The Fujita scale classifies tornadoes according to the damage they cause. Almost half of all tornadoes fall into the F1 or "moderate damage" category. These tornadoes reach speeds of 73-112 mph and can overturn automobiles and mobile homes, rip off the roofs of houses, and uproot trees. Only about one percent of tornadoes are classified as F5, causing "incredible damage". With wind speeds in excess of 261 mph, these tornadoes are capable of lifting houses off their foundations and hurling them considerable distances.

 

Tornado Scales and Damage Charts - Click to Enlarge


 

 

Here are some fun tornado facts.


 

Here are some of the things that people describe

when they tell about a tornado experience: