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Fujita-Pearson Tornado Intensity Scale

A tornado intensity rating scale.

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The Fujita-Pearson scale for rating tornado intensity is based on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation.

tornado intensity scale

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Fujita-Pearson ScaleTornado StrengthTornado NameMaximum Wind Speed
(miles per hour)
Path Length
(miles)
Average Path Length
(yard)
Damage
F0 Weak Gale < 73 < 1 < 18 Light some damage to chimneys
break branches off trees
push over shallow-rooted trees
damage sign boards
F1 Weak Moderate 73 - 112 1 - 3.1 18 - 55 Moderate lower limit is the beginning of hurricane wind speed
peel surface off roofs
mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned
moving autos pushed off the roads
F2 Strong Significant 113 - 157 3.2 - 9.9 56 - 175 Considerable roofs torn off frame houses
mobile homes demolished and pushed over
large trees snapped or uprooted
light-object missiles generated
F3 Strong Severe 158 - 206 10 - 31 176 - 556 Severe roofs and some walls torn off well constructed houses
trains overturned
most trees in forest uprooted
heavy cars lifted off the ground and thrown
F4 Violent Devastating 207 - 260 32 - 99 557 - 1759 Devastating well-constructed houses leveled
structures with weak foundations blown off some distance
cars thrown and large missiles generated
F5 Violent Incredible 261 - 318 100 - 315 1760 - 5456 Incredible strong frame houses lifted off foundations and carried considerable distance to disintegrate
automobile sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 meters(109 yards)
trees debarked
incredible phenomena will occur
> F6 not expected to occur on the surface of Earth
  • 1 mph = 0.44703 m/s = 1.609 km/h
  • 1 mile = 1.6093 km
  • 1 yd (yard) = 0.9144 m
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  • Engineering ToolBox, (2009). Fujita-Pearson Tornado Intensity Scale. [online] Available at: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/fujita-pearson-tornado-intensity-scale-d_1564.html [Accessed Day Mo. Year].

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