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Weather Encyclopedia

The Fujita Tornado Intensity Scale

This scale was developed in 1971 by Dr. T. Theodore Fujita of the University of Chicago and Allen Pearson, then Director of the National Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSL).

The scale they devised, based on six categories, converts the degree and type of damage caused by a tornado into an estimation of the wind speeds inside the funnel.

The classification of a tornado must, therefore, be done after the event, based on the degree of damage.

As of February 1, 2007, the Fujita Scale has been replaced by the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale), now used operationally to estimate tornado intensity and wind speed.

Assigning and Enhanced Fujita Scale rating involves a much more detailed inspection of damage than with the original F-Scale, with wind speeds now estimated based upon guidelines for 28 different types of structures and objects.  An EF rating is then applied to the tornado based upon the damage including the highest wind speed.

EF0   65-85 mph

EF1   88-110 mph

EF2   111-135 mph

EF3   136-165 mph

EF4   166-200 mph

EF5   over 200 mph

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