How damaging are all the categories of the tornado?

Answer 1

Note that how damaging a tornado is depends on not just the intensity, but also on where it hits, how large it is, and how long it lasts. Depending on quality of construction, a damage indicator typically associate with one category can also be found in lower categories. Also, a tornado of a given rating may only produce the corresponding damage level of damage along a small portion of its path, with most of the path dealing lesser damage.

EF0: Typical damage includes broken tree limbs with some trees uprooted. Some roofs will lose shingles. Gutters, awnings, and siding may be taken down. Fences may be knocked down and some small, weak structures such as sheds may be destroyed. Weak roofs may suffer significant damage. Damage in such tornadoes is often inconsistent, and may seem to skip.

EF1: Many buildings will suffer severe roof damage, and some poorly secured roofs may be torn off. Some houses will have broken windows. Trailers may be overturned and badly damaged, with some weaker trailers destroyed. Barns and outbuildings will be destroyed. Some weak, free standing walls may collapse. EF0 and EF1 tornadoes are usually short lived and small, so damage usually occurs in a small area. Such tornadoes rarely make more than local news.

EF2: Well made roofs will be mostly or completely torn from houses. Some exterior walls in houses may collapse. Trailers will be completely destroyed. Poorly anchored homes may be shifted. Large trees and most utility poles will be snapped. Small vehicles may be thrown short distances. An EF2 tornado in a trailer park can easily cause significant destruction.

EF3: Numerous walls will collapse in well built houses, with some losing their entire second stories. In some cases only a few interior walls are left standing. Houses of weaker construction may be leveled. Poorly anchored houses may be shifted of their foundations and collapse. Steel transmission and cell towers will likely be crumpled. Large vehicles may be lifted into the air. It is usually at this intensity that new media report major damage. Images of badly damaged homes seen on the national news usually consists of a mix of EF2 and EF3 damage.

EF4: Well built houses will be completely leveled, with some blown off their foundations. Trees may be significantly debarked. Asphalt may be peeled from some roads. Most tornadoes with death tolls over 20 are of at least EF4 strength.

EF5: Houses of even the best construction will be wiped clean off their foundations. Ground may be scoured in some swaths. Large objects will be carried great distances.

EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are usually very large and can easily become infamous. These tornadoes, especially those rated EF5, can flatten whole neighborhoods and devastate entire communities.