Oklahoma Tornado's Strength Upgraded to Rare EF5

[Hissyspit]

Source: CBS News

Oklahoma tornado's strength upgraded to rare EF5

May 21, 2013

MOORE, Okla. The National Weather Service's damage survey found that the monster tornado that wreaked havoc on an Oklahoma City suburb is the most powerful type of tornado there is: an EF5.

According to the Enhanced Fujita scale and the NWS, EF5 tornadoes and have winds over 200 mph -- enough to reduce well-constructed houses into splintered rubble and turn automobiles into flying missiles. In this case, the NWS estimated peaked winds reached 200-210 mph. Officials had previously thought the tornado, over a half-mile wide, had winds with no more than 200 mph.

The news came as the search for survivors in Moore, Okla., began to wrap up. Fire Chief Gary Bird said Tuesday that he's "98 percent sure" there are no more survivors or bodies to recover under the rubble in the city.

Bird says every damaged home has been searched at least once, and that his goal is to conduct three searches of each location just to be sure. He's hopeful the work could be completed by nightfall, though heavy rains have slowed efforts and soaked debris piles.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57585572/oklahoma-tornados-strength-upgraded-to-rare-ef5

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CNN Breaking News - Oklahoma Insurance Department: Damage claims from Monday's tornado likely to top $1 billion.

[phantom power]

1. seeing how it reduced steel/concrete structures to rubble, I'm not surprised

[Cha]

2. How freaking scary for

them!

thanks Hissyspit

[PuffedMica]

3. With CO2 over 400 now, we may need to go to 6

[B2G]

5. it was actually a weak 5

The 1999 tornado that went through Moore was 300 mph.

[PuffedMica]

6. We may need to add a new category for Tornadoes soon

EF5 won't be enough for what we are going to experience, we may need to go up to six soon.

( I know, cheap play on Spinal Tap going to 11 )

[B2G]

7. why?

How much further can you quantify complete devastation? The classification is based on damage not wind speeds when you get at the top of the scale.

[Bonduel]

14. You do know that what is considered the worst tornado ever

was the tri state tornado which killed 695 people and I believe was on the ground for over 3 hours in 1925. That was not due to global warming.

[laundry_queen]

8. You know, once it hits EF5, it doesn't really matter anymore

whether the windspeed is 200 MPH or 300 MPH. Pretty much nothing is standing after either one. It's silly to argue 'well this one wasn't as strong'. Besides, eyewitnesses called this one a slow mover compared to '99, which means it may have caused more damage, despite windspeed.

[B2G]

9. That was actually my point

EF5 means total destruction so why would we need a higher classification?

[laundry_queen]

10. yep

sorry, sometimes I lack the ability to read 'tone' online.

Yes, the EF6 classification is pointless.

[B2G]

11. You're not alone in that

[Spitfire of ATJ]

4. This thing picked up every car in the parking lot at once and tossed them at the hospital.

[Poll_Blind]

13. I saw that. I have no idea how crazy that would have looked like while it was happening.

Like the Japanese black tsunami, I could never have actually imagined what that looked like if they hadn't gotten film of it. I could have sort of imagined it in some half-assed way but not really. Just an incredible display of the power of nature.

PB

[Poll_Blind]

12. For those out there wondering if an EF6 tornado is possible, know that EF is a DAMAGE scale.

Yes, it's a wind scale too, but it's apparently the damage that's the reason it stops at 5. Some people pointed this out upthread I think but I wanted to catch anyone's eye who didn't already read over that. An F5 is basically total destruction so an F6 designation isn't really necessary/doesn't make sense according to how the scale is set up.

Here's a link to the EF scale wiki page and if you scroll down to look at the image of typical damage from an EF5 tornado you'll get the idea that there isn't really much you can destroy passed that.

In fact, looking back and forth between pictures of structural damage to Hiroshima after the atomic bomb (except for the heat damage), structural damage from severe earthquakes, structural damage from heavy bombing with high-explosive modern bombs and tornadoes, I feel the case could be made that an EF5 tornado's destructive capabilities (overall) are right up there with even the most severe calamities.

Which is kind of insane because nobody's regularly dropping nuclear bombs or 8-9+ earthquakes or bombing American cities on a yearly basis- but these tornadoes tear through an area and they almost might as well have.

PB

[marions ghost]

15. Thanks for that explanation

I will have a relative moving to Texas soon & am not familiar with big plains state twisters. More knowledgeable about hurricanes.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

16. Exactly. In theory though you could have a force that could tear up concrete and soil...

Leaving a swath that looks like a ditch.

But what would be the point?

The web is filled with comments of people acting like this is "The Three Little Pigs".

I tell those types that "Angry Birds" showed us all AGAIN that pigs are bad architects. Seriously,...when one red bird brings down EVERYTHING that is not a good roll model to argue for the use of brick.

Besides, from what I saw, some of the brick houses were only effective in providing projectiles and were a pain to have on top of you.

[Poll_Blind]

17. Possibly because I'm still learning about these things but I could be swayed by the argument that..

...an F6 (damage-wise) could exist in theory. I'm not sure if you were making that case, per se, but I recall the reporter on the KFOR helicopter explicitly making the point that although he couldn't be sure of the exact circumstances surrounding their damage during the tornado, he had seen sections of driveway ripped up and gone.

That's a kind of scouring power which has been supported by some of the pictures I've seen over the last few days and which would lead me to believe there is, arguably, a spot for an F6. It would effectively be a sort of biblical cleansing/scouring/scourging of the affected area such as to remove many/most traces of human habitation.

Man, it's funny how powerful simple wind and water can be. Really astounding.

PB

[Spitfire of ATJ]

18. I half expect some con men to spring up who claim they can toughen up your home for a price.

[Poll_Blind]

19. One of the oldest forms of American capitalism, to be sure. nt

PB

[JNoose]

20. It was inevitable

Looking at some raw footage from Nebraska shot today by stormchasers in Nebraska...Asphalt ripped off the road, the foundations of houses gone. If you're religious, pray for them. A new category EF6 is now necessary.

J