In rare cases the winds in a tornado may exceed 300 miles per hour, though only small portions of the path would be affected by such extreme winds. The wind in most tornadoes will not be over 100 miles per hour.
No. The highest wind speeds in a tornado are estimated to be a little over 300 mph (480 km/h).
Wind speeds in a tornado can vary widley. Very weak tornado produce winds of about 65 mph. The most viiolent can have winds over 300 mph. Lower wind speeds are more common.
By the standards of the Enhanced Fujita scale the minimum wind speed for an EF0 tornado is 65 mph. However, simply having a wind at or above this intensity is not enough for there to be a tornado. A tornado is a violently rotating vortex of wind, not just a gust above a certain strength.
Wind speeds inside of a tornado can vary greatly, with the most intense tornadoes having wind speeds exceeding 200 mph (322 km/h). The wind speeds near the center of the tornado, known as the eyewall, are typically the strongest, while the winds may be more variable toward the tornado's outer edges.
In rare cases wind speeds in a tornado can exceed 300 mph (480 km/h).
Scientists use the severity of damage that a tornado causes to estimate wind speed.
A tornado is a type of wind storm characterized by a rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground. Tornadoes are usually associated with strong and damaging winds that can reach speeds exceeding 200 mph, causing widespread destruction in their path.
40-72 mph
A tornado with the fastest known wind speeds would be classified as an EF5 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. EF5 tornadoes have estimated wind speeds of over 200 mph (322 km/h) and cause extreme damage.
Winds in a tornado are extremely high because the pressure at the center of the tornado is much less than its surroundings, and this pressure drop occurs over a very small distance. Differences in pressure are what cause most winds. The greater the pressure difference over a given area, the greater the wind speed.
Tornado wind speeds can vary greatly, but they typically spin at speeds between 110 to 300 mph (177 to 483 km/h) at the surface. However, some tornadoes have been known to reach speeds of over 300 mph.
The average tornado is 50 yards (45 meters) wide.