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3. How strong are tornadoes?
Because we have few measurements of windspeeds tornadoes are classified according to destructive ability. The associated windspeeds are estimated based on an examination of their damage. The Fujita scale is divided into six classes and fortunately most tornadoes are found in the lower classes. The most powerful tornadoes recorded are very rare F5 storms that are capable of enormous destruction. Just outside Oklahoma City on May 3rd 1999 a series of tornadoes formed from massive thunderstorm (called a supercell). Among these tornadoes was a rare F5 tornado that produced the fastest natural winds recorded on earth (over 300mph). The destruction caused by this outbreak was immense.
