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Among tornadoes in general, the strongest tornadoes are those rated EF5 (or F5 for tornadoes before 2007) on the Enhanced Fujita scale. Sometimes a lower rating is given, though, if there is not enough information to confirm that the tornado reached EF5 intensity.
For individual tornadoes that lay claim as the strongest:
The strongest winds ever recorded in a tornado were 302 mph in the F5 tornado that hit the Oklahoma City area on May 3, 1999. However, very few tornadoes actually have their winds measured and others may very well have been stronger. The damage from this tornado was in the F5 range, but other F5 tornadoes have caused more impressive damage.
The most extreme tornado damage ever documented was from the Jarrell, Texas tornado of May 27, 1997. This tornado completely erased part of a subdivision, stripping away houses, grass, trees, streets, driveways, and up to 18 inches of soil, leaving no survivors in the area of worst damage. However, some have noted that the extreme damage may have been partly due to the tornado's slow forward speed, which allowed the tornado's winds to tear away at the same spot for much longer than the typical F5.
Another impressive case occurred in near Philadelphia, Mississippi on April 27, 2011. This EF5 tornado tore across rural areas, so its full destructive potential is not known, but in some areas it scoured soil away to a depth of two feet. Unlike the one in Jarrell, this was a fast moving tornado that did not stay in one place for very long.
Another notable storm was the Tri-State tornado of March 18, 1925. This storm holds several records including the longest path and longest duration of any tornado ever recorded as well as being the deadliest tornado in U.S. history with 695 deaths. Although damage was not as extreme as in Jarrell, this fast moving tornado maintained F4 to F5 intensity along most of its 219 mile long damage path.
What else can I help you with?
Which area is number one for tornado alley?
The most intense part of Tornado Alley appears to be central Oklahoma.
What is the tip of a tornado called?
There is no real term for the tip of a tornado. A small area of intense suction in a tornado may be referred to as a suction spot.
What city is near Oklahoma's Tornado Alley?
All cities in Oklahoma are in Tornado Alley. Oklahoma City is in the most intense part of it.
Is a whirlwind a mild tornado?
No. A tornado is a very intense kind of whirlwind but most whirlwinds are not tornadoes. By definition a tornado is associated with a thunderstorm and connects to both the ground and the cloud base.
What is a center of tornado?
A tornado's center, or "eye," is actually found in hurricanes, not tornadoes. In a tornado, the most intense winds and destruction are located in the center of the funnel cloud. This is where the rotation is strongest and where the most damage is typically inflicted.
What can be found at the center of a tornado?
The center of a tornado is called the eye, and it is typically calm and quiet. This area is surrounded by the most intense winds and destruction within the tornado itself.
Is the eye of tornado safe?
No, the eye of a tornado is not safe. While it may appear calm, the most dangerous part of a tornado is the surrounding eyewall, where the strongest winds and most intense damage occur. It is not advisable to seek shelter in the eye of a tornado.
Is a tornado an intense area which is a vacuum?
No, inside a tornado the pressure is reduced by several psi, but it is not a vacuum. It only takes a pressure difference of 2 or 3 psi between inside and outside of a tornado to produce intense winds. Most of the damage from tornadoes comes from the winds that can exceed 200 mph.
How does the Galveston hurricane rank when compared to other hurricanes in the us?
It was the deadliest tornado to strike the U.S. but not the most intense or the most destructive.
What is the middel of a tornado called?
The center of a tornado is often informally called an "eye" such as that in a hurricane. In technical terms it is called a weak-echo hole.
What other catastrophic events can a tornado lead to?
A large, intense tornado can sometimes spawn a second smaller tornado that circles it and is called a satellite tornado.
An incredibly intense tornado has what for scale number?
The tornado generally describes as incredible is the F5 category.
