A Look at the Fujita Tornado (F) Scale
Tornadoes are rated on the Fujita scale, based on wind speed and
damage. The scale was developed by Dr. Theodore Fujita of the University of Chicago.
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F0 Light damage, wind under 73 mph. Some damage to chimneys, branches broken
off trees, shallow-rooted trees pushed over, sign boards damaged.
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F1 Moderate damage, wind 73-112 mph. Surfaces peeled off roofs, mobile homes
pushed off foundations or overturned, moving autos blown off roads.
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F2 Considerable damage, wind 113-157 mph. Roofs torn off frame houses, mobile
homes demolished, boxcars overturned, large trees snapped or uprooted, light
objects become missiles.
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F3 Severe damage, wind 158-206 mph. Roofs and some walls torn off
well-constructed houses, trains overturned, most trees in forest uprooted, heavy
cars lifted off ground and thrown.
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F4 Devastating damage, wind 207-260 mph. Well-constructed houses leveled,
structures with weak foundations blown some distance, cars thrown, large
missiles generated.
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F5 Incredible damage, wind 261-318 mph. Strong frame houses lifted off
foundations and swept away, automobile-sized missiles fly through the air more
than 100 yards, trees debarked.
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F6
Inconceivable tornado, wind 319-379 mph. These winds are very unlikely. The
small area of damage they might produce would probably not be recognizable along
with the mess produced by F-4 and F-5 wind that would surround the F-6 winds.
Missiles, such as cars and refrigerators would do serious secondary damage.
The F scale
extends to 12 and at that point represents Mach 1 (the speed of sound, 750 mph).
11.11.2002
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