Tornado Fujita Scale
The scale for rating tornadoes is known as the Fujita scale or Fujita-Pearson scale. It rates the intensity of damage that tornadoes can cause to building structures and vegetation. This tornado damage scale was developed by T. Theodore Fujita of the Univeristy of Chicago in 1971(Fujita, 1971). The F scale indicates wind speed and damage likely to be experienced. The wind speeds and associated damage have not been scientifically verified are are only estimates. Below is the original Fujita Scale from T. Theodore Fujita.
The F-Scale or Fujita Tornado Damage Scale has been upgraded by a new Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale). The enhanced scale identifies 28 different free standing structures. The new EF-Scale first started to be used Feb. 1, 2007 and the first EF-5 tornado developed on May 4th, 2007 in Greensburg, Kansas. Below is the new enhanced Fujita Scale by a team of wind engineers and meteorologists.
Modified from Wind Science and Engineering Center, 2004
The Enhanced Fujita Scale structure indicators are listed below.
Modified from Wind Science and Engineering Center, 2004
Below is a count chart of reported EF-1 to EF-5 tornadoes in the United States from 1954 to 2014 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The chart indicates that there has been little change in the frequency of tornadoes over the last 60 years.
Historical Facts
Most tornadoes within 24 hours in U.S. history - 2011 produced 211 on April 27th (11 EF4s and 4 EF5s).
Recent Tornadoes
EF-0 Tornado hit Downers Grove Illinois, causing minor damage on August 18th, 2015.
EF-1 hits Battle Ground, Washington on December 10, 2015. Thirty-six homes were damaged.
Late season December tornado hits Texas. Fifty homes were damaged.
EF-5 Hit Oklahoma city in 1999. 36 People were killed and 1 billion in damages occurred.
Video of the Joplin twister, an e5 that hit Missouri in 2011.+
Iowa City 5-23-2020, 2 minute movie of a large tornado hitting Iowa city.
Close up video of a tornado that tore throughMadill Oklahoma 4-22-20.
Historical F5 tornado information.
Video of Wild tornado outbreak in Mississippi 3-22-2022.
Check out the NOAA Storm Map for current/recent storms and tornadoes.
References:
NOAA.gov, 2015, Historical Records and Trends, https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/climate-information/extreme-events/us-tornado-climatology/trends
SPC.NOAA.gov, 2015, Fujita Tornado Damage Fujita Scale
Wikipedia.com, 2015, Tornado Records
Wikipedia.com, 2015, Fujita Scale
Wunderground.com, 2015, Enhanced Fujita Scale
Wind Science and Engineering Center, 2004, Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale) submitted to the National Weather Service and Other Interested Users, Texas Tech University
