Tornado ratings are based on damage, so the wind speeds for any given rating are estimates. The original estimated wind speed range for an F5 tornado was 261-318 mph. This estimate is now believed to have been too high. Currently, a tornado with estimate winds in excess of 200 mph is rated EF5, though the damage inflicted is the same as that from an F5.
On May 3, 1999 as tornadoes ravaged Oklahoma scientist measured the highest recorded wind speed at about 7:00 p.m. near Moore, Oklahoma. A wind speed of 302 mph was recorded where a tornado killed 38 people and destroyed 8,000 homes.
The Fujita Scale for tornadoes
F0 Gale tornado 40-72 mph
F1 Moderate tornado 73-112 mph
F2 Significant tornado 113-157 mph
F3 Severe tornado 158-206 mph
F4 Devastating tornado 207-260 mph
F5 Incredible tornado 261-318 mph
The fastest wind speed associated with a large tornado recorded on 3 May 1999 near Bridge Creek, Oklahoma, USA, was 486 +/_32km/h (301 +/-20mph). It is suspected that winds can be faster, though, as only a handful of tornadoes have actual had their winds measured.
With our current technology, it's hard to get exact measurements because the instruments are destroyed by the force of the wind. However, in Moore, OK an F-5 category tornado was measured by Doppler at 301 +/- 20 mph.
The highest winds that we have measured by the Doppler at 301+/-20mph. That is all that our technology can give to us.
Scientists estimate that the fastest winds possible for a tornado are just over 300 mph (480km/h), though tornadoes this strong are extremely rare.
It is believed that hurricane winds can reach 200 mph.
Maximum wind speeds in a tornado are believed to be just over 300 mph. Tornadoes this strong are extremely rare.
A tornado
As with hurricanes the strongest winds are generally on the right side of a tornado.
35 miles per hour is the average traveling speed of a tornado, though one tornado was observed moving at 73 mph. The wind speed in a tornado can, on rare occasions, exceed 300 mph, though 80% of tornadoes have winds of 110 mph or less.
In some cases scientists are able to measure the winds either remotely using doppler radar or, less often, getting a specialized inside the tornado. In most cases, however, the wind speed is estimated based on the severity of the damage the tornado causes.
Estimated winds for an F2 tornado on the original Fujita scale are 113 to 157 mph. It was later found that this estimate was not quite right for the damage inflicted by an F2 tornado and so was refined to a range of 111 to 135 mph for an EF2 tornado.
It varies widely. The weakest have winds of about 65 mph, while the strongest have winds over 300 mph.
Winds in a tornado can get up to 300 mph.
It is impossible to know exactly how fast the winds were as we did not have the tools to measure a tornado's winds back then. But since the tornado was rated F5 (equivalent to EF5 on the new scale) winds were probably well over 200 mph.
A tornado IS wind- very fast winds spinning in a circle.
How fast a tornado is moving refers to how fast the tornado itself travels from point A to point B. For example, a tornado moving towards at 30 mph and is a mile away will reach you in 2 minutes. The rotational winds of a tornado refers to how fast the tornado itself is spinning, which is generally faster than its forward speed.
Winds in an EF5 tornado are over 200 mph. Winds to just over 300 mph have been recorded in such storms.
Most damage in a tornado is caused by the extremely fast winds.
The Enhanced Fujita scale puts the beginning of tornado winds at 65 mph. Doppler radar has detected winds in a tornado of just over 300 mph.
Doppler radar measured winds at 301 mph +/- 20 in that tornado at a height about 100 feet above the ground. These are the fastest winds ever recorded on earth. However, it is possible that other tornadoes were stronger but did not get their winds measured
Winds inside a tornado can range from 65mph to over 300 mph. Most tornadoes have winds less than 110 mph. The ones that cause major damage are usually in the strongest 5% with estimated winds over 135 mph.
A tornado
The winds in a tornado can vary greatly and be any where between 65 and 300+ MPH. The majority of tornadoes have winds of 110 mph or less while the most damaging have estimated winds over 135 mph.