Tornado Damage Classification


F0--Weak

Wind: 40-72 miles per hour (mph)
Light Damage: Some chimneys damaged, twigs and branches broken off trees, shallow-rooted trees pushed over, signboards damages, some windows broken


F1--Weak

Wind: 73-112 mph
Moderate Damage: Surface of roofs peeled off, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, outbuildings demolished, moving autos pushed off the roads, trees snapped or broken; beginning of hurricane-speed winds


F2--Strong

Wind: 113-157 mph
Considerable Damage: Roofs torn off frame houses, mobile homes demolished, frame houses with weak foundations lifted and moved, large trees snapped or uprooted, light-object missiles generated


F3--Strong

Wind: 158-206 mph
Severe Damage: Roofs and some walls torn off well-constructed houses; trains overturned; most trees in forecast uprooted, heavy cars lifted off the ground and thrown, weak pavement blown off the roads


F4--Violent

Wind: 207-260 mph
Devastating Damage: Well-constructed houses leveled, structures with weak foundations blown off the distance, cars thrown and disintegrated, trees in forest uprooted and carried some distance away


F5--Violent

Wind: 261-318 mph
Incredible Damage: Strong frame houses lifted off foundations and carried considerable distance to disintegrate, automobile-sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 300 feet, trees debarked, incredible phonomena will occur

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