The strength of a tornado is determined by the damage it does to man-made structures and vegetation.
When a structure takes damage from a tornado, the degree of damage, the type of structure, and its quality of construction are used to estimate the strength of the winds that caused that damage. This is then used to sort the tornado into one of six intensity categories of the Enhanced Fujita Scale, ranging from EF0 at the weakest to EF5 at the strongest.
A tornado can lose its strength when it moves over cooler water or land, or if it encounters strong winds that disrupt its circulation. Additionally, if the thunderstorm that spawned the tornado weakens or dissipates, the tornado will also lose strength.
The highest strength rating a tornado can receive is EF5. Areas impacted by the full force of an EF5 tornado will experience total destruction. Well-built houses will be wiped clean of their foundations, and steel reinforced structures will be leveled. The lowest strength rating a tornado can receive is EF0. An EF0 tornado can peel shingles from roofs, break tree branches, and knock down a few trees. Some very weak structures may be destroyed.
No, it is possible to measure the strength of a tornado, though direct measurements are rare. Most tornadoes have their strength estimated based on the severity of the damage they cause. Occasionally, though mobile Doppler can obtain wind measurements from a tornado. One tornado on May 24, 2011 was rated EF5 after such a radar indicated winds in excess of 210 mph.
A large tornado is typically stronger than a small, skinny tornado. The size of a tornado is often an indication of its strength, with wider tornadoes usually having higher wind speeds and causing more damage. However, other factors such as wind speed, duration, and path can also affect a tornado's strength.
Tornado strength is typically measured using the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which ranges from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). The rating is based on the tornado's estimated wind speed and resulting damage.
A tornado can lose its strength when it moves over cooler water or land, or if it encounters strong winds that disrupt its circulation. Additionally, if the thunderstorm that spawned the tornado weakens or dissipates, the tornado will also lose strength.
A typical tornado is probably a strong EF0 or EF1.
There is no basis for comparison between the two. An iceberg's "strength" is its mass and hardness. A tornado's strength is its wind speed.
The intensity of a tornado is estimated based on the severity of the damage it inflicts.
The highest strength rating a tornado can receive is EF5. Areas impacted by the full force of an EF5 tornado will experience total destruction. Well-built houses will be wiped clean of their foundations, and steel reinforced structures will be leveled. The lowest strength rating a tornado can receive is EF0. An EF0 tornado can peel shingles from roofs, break tree branches, and knock down a few trees. Some very weak structures may be destroyed.
The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of a Tornado by the damage it has caused!
No, it is possible to measure the strength of a tornado, though direct measurements are rare. Most tornadoes have their strength estimated based on the severity of the damage they cause. Occasionally, though mobile Doppler can obtain wind measurements from a tornado. One tornado on May 24, 2011 was rated EF5 after such a radar indicated winds in excess of 210 mph.
The air pressure in a tornado is lower than that of its surrounding but the pressure difference varies with the strength of the tornado. The greater the pressure difference, the stronger the tornado. The greatest pressure drop recorded from a tornado was 100 millibars or about 10%.
The Hackleburg-Phil Campbell tornado of April 27, 2011 was rated EF5
The air pressure in a tornado is lower than that of its surrounding but the pressure difference varies with the strength of the tornado. The greater the pressure difference, the stronger the tornado. The greatest pressure drop recorded from a tornado was 100 millibars or about 10%.
A large tornado is typically stronger than a small, skinny tornado. The size of a tornado is often an indication of its strength, with wider tornadoes usually having higher wind speeds and causing more damage. However, other factors such as wind speed, duration, and path can also affect a tornado's strength.
In terms of actual type, the tornado that hit near Taylor was probably a supercell tornado. In terms of strength, it was rated F2.