How many pounds can a tornado lift up?

Answer 1

The strongest can pick up anything from buses, cars, small buildings, houses, and even trains! In the late 1800s, there was a record of a thin EF5 tornado and charging at a train in Minnesota. The tornado was recorded to lift up the 60-tonne train 30 meters high in the sky and throwing it 80 ft away into a ditch.

Answer 2

It depends on how strong the tornado is. Most tornadoes can't lift much more than dust and some light objects such as roof tiles and small tree branches. Somewhat stronger tornadoes can lift light vehicles and small structures such as sheds.

Intense tornadoes can lift most road vehicles, roofs, and small, unanchored buildings. Violent tornadoes can lift houses, mature trees, and trains.

Answer 3

It depends on the intensity of the tornado.

The weakest tornadoes, rated EF0 can generally only lift light objects with large surface areas.

The strongest tornadoes, rated EF5 can lift up large buildings.

At least one such tornado is reported to have picked up a large church.

Answer 4

How heavy of an object a tornado can lift depends on the strength of the tornado and the shape of the object. The heaviest object on record to have been lifted by a tornado was a 180,000 lb oil tank.

Answer 5

The very strongest of tornadoes have been known to lift up houses and heavy construction equipment weighing as much as 30 tons.