TORNADO WIND SCALE
The Storm Prediction Center has a brief description of the new Enhanced Fujita Scale.
Here's the full report submitted by the Wind Science and Engineering Center at Texas Tech University in PDF format.
A modification of the original Fujita Scale developed by "Dr. Tornado", T. Theodore Fujita of the University of Chicago.
| New EF Scale: |
Old F-Scale: |
Typical Damage:
|
| EF0 (65-85 mph) |
F0 (65-73 mph) |
Light damage: Peels surface off some roofs; some damage to gutters or siding; branches broken off trees; shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
|
| EF1 (86-110 mph) |
F1 (73-112 mph) |
Moderate damage: Roofs severely stripped; mobile homes overturned or badly damaged; loss of exterior doors; windows and other glass broken.
|
| EF2(111-135 mph) |
F2 (113-157 mph) |
Considerable damage: Roofs torn off well-constructed houses; foundations of frame homes shifted; mobile homes completely destroyed; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-object missiles generated; cars lifted off ground.
|
| EF3 (136-165 mph) |
F3 (158-206 mph) |
Severe damage: Entire stories of well-constructed houses destroyed; severe damage to large buildings such as shopping malls; trains overturned; trees debarked; heavy cars lifted off the ground and thrown; structures with weak foundations blown away some distance.
|
| EF4 (166-200 mph) |
F4 (207-260 mph) |
Devastating damage: Whole frame houses Well-constructed houses and whole frame houses completely leveled; cars thrown and small missiles generated.
|
| EF5 (>200 mph) |
F5 (261-318 mph) |
Incredible damage: Strong frame houses leveled off foundations and swept away; automobile-sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 m (109 yd); high-rise buildings have significant structural deformation; incredible phenomena will occur.
|
| EF No rating |
F6-F12 (319 and above) |
Inconceivable damage. Should a tornado with the maximum wind speed in excess of F5 occur, the extent and types of damage may not be conceived. A number of missiles such as iceboxes, water heaters, storage tanks, automoblies, etc.will create serious secondary damage on structures. |
HURRICANE WIND SCALE
Tropical Depression
Winds over 38 mph (33 knots, 62 km/h)
Tropical Storm
Winds 39-73 mph34 (63 knots, 63–118 km/h)
Category One Hurricane
74-95 mph (82 knots, 119–153 km/h
Category Two Hurricane
96-110 mph (83–95 knots, 154–177 km/h)
Category Three Hurricane
111-129 mph (96–112 knots, 178–208 km/h)
Cateory Four Hurricane
130-156 mph (113–136 knots, 209–251 km/h)
Category Five Hurricane
157+ mph (137 knots, 252 km/h)
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