Tornado Facts - About The Fujita Scale

Here are some interesting facts about the tornado tornadoes are measured and evaluated the path. The standard scale used to reduce the size of a tornado is measured is the Fujita Scale or F-scale called, as it often is called. The F scale was developed in 1951 by the Japanese American meteorologist Tetsuya Fujita.

This scale classifies tornadoes on a hierarchy of the amount of damage they have caused. By measuring the amount of damage, wind speeds can be determined and usedto rate the tornado on the Fujita Scale. Certain types of damage happen at different wind speeds. After a tornado has passed through an area experts will assess the type of damage that was done to structures and trees. By studying the types of damage they can determine the category or size of the tornado.

Irene Hurricane

In 2007 the Enhanced Fujita scale was developed by the Texas Tech. University Wind Science and Engineering Research Center in conjunction with other wind engineers and meteorologists. By incorporating improved knowledge of wind speeds and the resulting damage they were able to determine a more accurate assessment of a tornado based on its destruction path. The scale retained the original categories of the Fujita Scale but the associated wind speeds were revised. Below is the enhanced F Scale or EF Scale rating measurements that were adopted by the National Weather Service in 2007.

EF0- Estimated winds of 65-85 mph.

EF1- Estimated winds of 86-110 mph.

EF2- Estimated winds of 111-135 mph.

EF3- Estimated winds of 136-165 mph.

EF4- Estimated winds of 166-200 mph.

EF5- Estimated winds over 200 mph.

Tornado Facts - About The Fujita Scale