The Fujita scale,or Fujita–Pearson scale,is a scale for rating tornado intensity,based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation. The official Fujita scale category is determined by meteorologists and engineers after a ground or aerial damage survey,or both;and depending on the circumstances,ground-swirl patterns,weather radar data,witness testimonies,media reports and damage imagery,as well as photogrammetry or videogrammetry if motion picture recording is available. The Fujita scale was replaced with the Enhanced Fujita scale (EF-Scale) in the United States in February 2007. In April 2013,Canada adopted the EF-Scale over the Fujita scale along with 31 "Specific Damage Indicators" used by Environment Canada (EC) in their ratings.
From April 26 to 27,1991,multiple supercells across Oklahoma and Kansas led to a regional tornado outbreak. Forced by a potent trough and focused along a dryline,these distinct thunderstorms moved northeast through a moist and highly unstable environment. A total of 55 tornadoes were confirmed,many of which were strong,F2 or greater on the Fujita scale. A widely documented F5 tornado tore through Andover,Kansas,killing 17 people. Additional fatalities occurred from significant tornadoes in other portions of Kansas and Oklahoma,with 21 deaths recorded in total. An F4 tornado was detected by a mobile doppler weather radar team which observed winds up to 270 mph (430 km/h) at the top of the funnel,the first time winds of F5 intensity were measured by radar,and the highest winds recorded by radar at the time. A news team filming an F2 tornado sought shelter under a Kansas Turnpike overpass,causing a misconception that overpasses can provide adequate shelter during a tornado. This outbreak occurred within a transition period for the National Weather Service and proved the value of NEXRAD radars,which were utilized in Oklahoma to provide advanced warning to residents.
This article lists various tornado records. The most "extreme" tornado in recorded history was the Tri-State tornado,which spread through parts of Missouri,Illinois,and Indiana on March 18,1925. It is considered an F5 on the Fujita Scale,holds records for longest path length at 219 miles (352 km) and longest duration at about 3+1⁄2 hours,and held the fastest forward speed for a significant tornado at 73 mph (117 km/h) anywhere on Earth until 2021. In addition,it is the deadliest single tornado in United States history with 695 fatalities. It was also the second costliest tornado in history at the time,and when costs are normalized for wealth and inflation,it still ranks third today.
On Tuesday,April 10,1979,a widespread and destructive outbreak of severe weather impacted areas near the Red River between Oklahoma and Texas. Thunderstorms developed over West and North Central Texas during the day within highly unstable atmospheric conditions following the northward surge of warm and moist air into the region,producing large hail,strong winds,and multiple tornadoes. At least 22 tornadoes were documented on April 10,of which two were assigned an F4 rating on the Fujita scale;four of the tornadoes caused fatalities.
There is a long history of destructive tornadoes in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The third-deadliest,and the costliest in United States history,the 1896 St. Louis–East St. Louis tornado,injured more than one thousand people and caused at least 255 fatalities in the City of St. Louis and in East St. Louis. The second-costliest tornado also occurred in St. Louis in September 1927. More tornado fatalities occurred in St. Louis than any other city in the United States. Also noteworthy is that destructive tornadoes occur in winter and autumn,as well as the typical months of spring. Additionally,damaging tornadoes occur in the morning and late at night,as well as the more common late afternoon to early evening maximum period.
The Great Storm of 1975 was an intense winter storm system that impacted a large portion of the Central and Southeast United States from January 9–12,1975. A classic Panhandle hook,the mid-latitude cyclone produced an outbreak of 45 tornadoes in the Southeast U.S. resulting in 12 fatalities,while later dropping over 2 feet (61 cm) of snow and killing 58 people in the Midwest. This storm,which caused blizzard conditions,remains one of the worst blizzards to ever strike parts of the Midwest,as well as one of the largest January tornado outbreaks on record in the United States.
This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2004. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States,Bangladesh,and Eastern India,but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe,Asia,and Australia. Tornadic events are often accompanied with other forms of severe weather,including strong thunderstorms,strong winds,and hail.
This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2001. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States,Bangladesh,and Eastern India,but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions. Tornadoes also develop occasionally in southern Canada during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and somewhat regularly at other times of the year across Europe,Asia,and Australia. Tornadic events are often accompanied with other forms of severe weather,including strong thunderstorms,strong winds,and hail.
The 1955 Great Plains tornado outbreak was a deadly tornado outbreak that struck the southern and central U.S Great Plains States on May 25–26,1955. It produced at least 48 tornadoes across seven states including two F5 tornadoes in Blackwell,Oklahoma,and Udall,Kansas that caused most of the casualties. The outbreak killed 102 people while injuring hundreds more. Unusual electromagnetic activity was observed,including St. Elmo's fire.
The March 1990 Central United States tornado outbreak affected portions of the United States Great Plains and Midwest regions from Iowa to Texas from March 11 to March 13,1990. The outbreak produced at least 64 tornadoes across the region,including four violent tornadoes;two tornadoes,which touched down north and west of Wichita,Kansas,were both rated F5,including the tornado that struck Hesston. In Nebraska,several strong tornadoes touched down across the southern and central portion of the state,including an F4 tornado that traveled for 131 miles (211 km) making it the longest tracked tornado in the outbreak. Two people were killed in the outbreak,one each by the two F5 tornadoes in Kansas.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1995,primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S.,although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes,but by the 1990s,tornado statistics were coming closer to the numbers seen today.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1968,primarily in the United States. Most tornadoes form in the U.S.,although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes. Two F5 tornadoes struck Iowa in the Charles City and Maynard areas,combined they claimed 18 lives and this was one of very few cases in history where two F5 or EF5 tornadoes hit the same state,on the same day.
The first six days of December 1953 produced a destructive and deadly tornado outbreak sequence across the Southern United States. There were 19 confirmed tornadoes,including a violent F4 tornado that hit the northwest side of Alexandria,Louisiana and even more violent F5 tornado that hit Vicksburg,Mississippi. In all,the tornadoes killed 49 people,injured 404 others,and caused $45,709 million in damage. The death toll made this deadliest December tornado outbreak ever recorded and it would not be surpassed until 2021. This was also the last of the series of deadly and catastrophic tornado outbreaks to strike the US in 1953.
A deadly and destructive outbreak sequence of 23 tornadoes struck parts of the Great Plains and the Great Lakes in late-June 1957. At least seven significant tornadoes (F2+) touched down during the outbreak sequence. The most devastating storm was a large,violent,and catastrophic 500-yard-wide F5 tornado family that struck Fargo,North Dakota on Thursday,June 20,1957,killing 10 people and becoming the deadliest tornado ever recorded in North Dakota. The outbreak caused 11 fatalities,105 injuries,and $25.883 million in damage.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1949,primarily in the United States. Most recorded tornadoes form in the U.S.,although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1947,primarily in the United States. Most recorded tornadoes form in the U.S.,although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 1946,primarily in the United States. Most recorded tornadoes form in the U.S.,although some events may take place internationally. Tornado statistics for older years like this often appear significantly lower than modern years due to fewer reports or confirmed tornadoes.
