The Fujita scale, used since 1971 to rate tornado strength, changed on February 1st, 2007. The Enhanced Fujita scale is now employed by the National Weather Service to survey storm damage and assess tornado strength. It’s unfortunate that the new scale is already in use; deadly twisters raked Central Florida on the first of the month.
Bobby Knight isn’t the only big name at Texas Tech University - their “Wind Science and Engineering Research Center” is world-reknowned for their wind tunnel work. The Enhanced Fujita scale incorporates their improved understanding of structure damage and its equivalent tornado wind speed.
Although the wind speed ranges have changed with the new scale (see extended entry) the damage that prompted an old F5 ranking still yields an Enhanced Fujita ranking of 5 (EF5). The primary reason to tweak the scale is our increased understanding of the wind damage caused by tornadoes. For historical purposes, old tornado rankings will not be changed.
Enhanced Fujita Scale
EF0: 65-85 mph
EF1: 86-110 mph
EF2: 111-135 mph
EF3: 136-165 mph
EF4: 166-200 mph
EF5: >200 mph
Old Fujita Scale
F0: <73 mph
F1: 73-112 mph
F2: 113-157 mph
F3: 158-206 mph
F4: 207-260 mph
F5: 261-318 mph
I suppose with the new scale, it would have made the Goodlettsville-Gallatin tornado an F4?
I am so glad I moved from florida right now I use to live in volusia county, but I wish I could go back for a week.My Nephew and Niece’s live in lake county. My nephew is in the hopital due to the trailor he was in exploded when the tonado hit him. He had to have 2 surgeries the day he went in and now has a tube in his chest for drainage and a plate in his arm and another in his leg. He was also cut from just under his armpit down to his thigh. I thank god he was the only one in our family that was hurt and noone was killed. The other people he was with ws a mother and father who were killed and his cousins they were triplets, 2 girls and 1 boy . the 1 girl wasnt home and the other got a broken pelvise but the boy died due to the tub landing on him.
It’s tough to say what the Goodlettsville-Gallatin torado would be ranked without examining the specific structural damage that led to the initial ranking.
According to what I’ve read about the Enhanced Fujita scale, the tornado would likely get the same rating (it was F3). The only difference is that the derived wind speeds in the Enhanced Fujita scale would be less than the values derived by the old Fujita scale.
Kind of confusing, isn’t it?
Since the ground hog didn’t see his shadow,do you think that we will have an early spring?I hope because I am ready!
thanks for anwsering my question
Justin, it is rather confusing…lol That is what makes it so interesting though
I really don’t understanding for this change. In the old scale, an F5 was truly a horrific rare event with winds of 261+. Now with the new scale, a formerly ranked F3 with winds of 201 will now be classified as an F5. F5’s will now become common and won’t be viewed as the super-destructive monster’s that everyone rightly fears. Again, what’s the point? Doesn’t this simply water down our perceptions of tornados? Will they eventually create F6 and F7 categories to once again segregate?
I agree about the new maximum rating. 200+? That is very broad considering the strongest F5 ever was the OKC tornado which had speeds of 318. There should be at least one category in between 200 and the maximum speed ever recorded.
The new scale makes no sense, It is only going to result in “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” when weathermen talk about tornados, continually mentioning twisters on an “F5″ level will be a household expression now deeming the real monsters 300 MPH+ an un identifiable phenomenon.