In excess of 200 mph at the peak, possibly as high as 250 mph.
The speed and direction of a tornado can be determined using Doppler radar by measuring how far the tornado moves between sweeps and in what direction.
In terms of wind speed, tornado and hurricane winds usually fall into the same range. Tornadoes are capable of producing stronger winds than hurricanes are, however. In terms of traveling speed, tornadoes generally move faster but, again, there is a good deal of overlap.
Wind shear is a factor that can contribute to the formation and intensity of tornadoes by creating a change in wind direction and speed with height, leading to rotation within the thunderstorm. While wind shear is an important ingredient for tornado development, there are other factors such as instability in the atmosphere and moisture that also play a role in tornado formation.
The outbreak that produced the Joplin tornado started on May 21. A large mass of warm, moist air was over the plains as a low pressure system pulled cooler, drier air from further north, forming a cold front that traveled westward, generating lift that ignited violent thunderstorms which began producing tornadoes. These thunderstorms continued through May 22. One particularly powerful storm developed over eastern Kansas and soon after crossing into Missouri, produced a tornado 1 mile west of Joplin that intensified extremely rapidly.
An EF3 tornado has estimated winds of 136-165 mph.
In excess of 200 mph at the peak, possibly as high as 250 mph.
The Joplin tornado struck the city of Joplin, Missouri.
No. Joplin is in Missouri and so was the tornado that hit it.
The Joplin, Missouri tornado occurred on May 22, 2011.
The Joplin tornado traveled about 22 miles in total. It was in Joplin for about 7 miles.
The Joplin tornado caused about $2.8 billion worth of damage to the city of Joplin.
The Joplin tornado struck the city of Joplin, which is in the southwestern corner of Missouri in the central United States.
The Joplin, Missouri tornado occurred on May 22, 2011.
The Joplin tornado occurred on the afternoon of May 22, 2011.
The largest tornado ever recorded was the El Reno, Oklahoma tornado of May 31, 2013. This tornado was 2.6 miles wide. Doppler radar measured a wind gust in the tornado at 296 mph, the second highest wind speed ever recorded in a tornado.
The Joplin, Missouri tornado of May 22, 2011 was rated EF5, the highest rating possible. The exact maximum wind speed is not known, but some areas likely experienced gusts to well over 200 mph.
Scientists usually use the severity of the damage a tornado causes to estimate its wind speed.