There is no given duration for a tornado of any intensity, but a tornado as violent as an EF5 will generally last fairly long. Most will likely last for at least 20 minutes. Some may last for well over an hour.
There have been thousands of tornadoes in the last 5 years. These are the 3 most notable.The Joplin, Missouri tornado of May 22, 2011. This EF5 tornado devastated Joplin, killing 158 people and costing $2.8 billion. This makes it the costliest tornado in U.S. history, the 7th deadliest, and the deadliest since 1947.The Hackleburg, Alabama tornado of April 27, 2011. This EF5 tornado devastated a series of small towns in northern Alabama along a damage path over 130 miles long. The tornado killed 72 people and cost $1.25 billion. This makes it the deadliest tornado in Alabama history and the 4th costliest in U.S. history.The Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado of April 27, 2011. This EF4 (possibly EF5) tornado devastated parts of Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Alabama, killing 64 people and causing $2.2 billion in damage. This makes it the second deadliest tornado in Alabama history and the second costliest in U.S. history. It briefly haled the title of costliest until the Joplin tornado 3 weeks later. This and the Hackleburg tornado were part of the 2011 Super Outbreak, the largest and costliest tornado outbreak ever recorded.
3.5 hours
The duration of a tornado on the ground can vary widely, from a few seconds to several hours. On average, most tornadoes last less than 10 minutes. However, some long-track tornadoes have been known to stay on the ground for over an hour, causing significant damage along their path.
A tornado does not even last a day. The longest duration ever recorded for a tornado was 3 hours and 29 minutes. Durations over an hour are rare. The average tornado lasts about 10 minutes.
The deadliest tornado outbreak in U.S. history was the one which produced the Tri-State tornado on March 18, 1925. As a whole the outbreak killed 747 people, 695 in the devastating Tri-State tornado, the deadliest single tornado in U.S. history. The F5 tornado cut a 219 mile long damage path through 13 counties in Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana.
Tornadoes typically last for a few minutes to about an hour, with the average time being around 10 minutes. However, some may last longer, especially if they are part of a long-lived tornado outbreak.
The Tri-State tornado had a path of 219 miles long and 3/4 mile to 1 mile wide across 3 states and numerous mining towns.
As of May 16, 2012 the last tornado was two days ago.
It varies. A tornado warning may last for just a few minutes or over an hour.
The Super Outbreak, which occurred from April 3 to April 4, 1974, lasted approximately 18 hours. It involved a series of tornadoes that struck several states in the central and eastern United States, resulting in significant destruction and numerous fatalities. This outbreak is one of the largest and most intense tornado events in U.S. history.
The worst tornado outbreak ocurred across portions of Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama on March 18, 1925. At least nine tornadoes are known to have happened, with more that probably went undocumented. In total, the outbreak killed at least 747 people. Of those deaths, at least 695 were from a single F5 tornado that tore a 219 mile long damage path across parts of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. This storm, the deadliest tornado in US history, is known as the Tri-State tornado.
The Waco, Texas tornado occurred on May 15, 1953, and lasted approximately 15 minutes. It was part of a severe weather outbreak that caused significant damage in the area, resulting in 114 fatalities and numerous injuries. The tornado was rated F5 on the Fujita scale, making it one of the most powerful tornadoes in U.S. history.
4 mins
3.5 hours
3.5 hours
The duration of a tornado can vary greatly, from a few seconds to several hours. On average, a tornado lasts for about 10 minutes. Tornado strength, size, and environmental conditions all play a role in determining how long a tornado will last.