Tornado Ratings |top|

Research (e.g., Edwards et al., 2013) has shown that different survey teams can assign different ratings to the same damage path, especially for borderline cases (e.g., EF2 vs. EF3). Factors include time spent on site, access to radar data, and individual judgment regarding "typical" construction quality.

Researchers are exploring complementary or alternative approaches: tornado ratings

Recognizing the limitations of the F-scale, the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States, in collaboration with wind engineering researchers at Texas Tech University, introduced the Enhanced Fujita Scale in February 2007. Research (e

Well-built homes swept completely off foundations; structural steel deformed. How Forensic Meteorological Surveys Work Reddit +2 The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale The

post-storm based on the damage they leave behind. Reddit +2 The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale The EF Scale uses 28 different "damage indicators" (like specific building types or tree species) to estimate a tornado's wind speeds. NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory +1 EF Rating Estimated 3-Second Gust (mph) Typical Damage Examples EF0 65–85 Branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over EF1 86–110 Roof surfaces peeled off, mobile homes pushed or overturned EF2 111–135 Roofs torn off well-built houses, large trees snapped or uprooted EF3 136–165 Entire stories of well-constructed houses destroyed, heavy cars lifted EF4 166–200 Well-constructed houses leveled; structures with weak foundations blown away EF5 >200 Strong frame houses swept away; automobile-sized missiles fly through air Key Nuances in Tornado Rating 12 sites Severe Weather 101: Tornado Basics To determine the strength of a tornado, experts examine the damage it caused. From this information, we can estimate the wind spee... NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of tornado ratings is the human element. Unlike a hurricane, which is rated by satellite measurement of winds before it hits land, a tornado is rated by humans walking the debris field days later.

The EF5 category has a lower bound of >200 mph but no upper bound. Wind engineering suggests that beyond approximately 200-220 mph, most well-built wood-frame homes are completely destroyed; there is no "more destroyed" state. This creates a , masking potentially significant differences between a 210 mph tornado and a 300 mph tornado.