= new reply since forum marked as read
of tornadoes getting any stronger. There have always very strong tornadoes, EF4 or better, but even now less than 1% reach that EF4 strength. I'd rate the one above as a strong EF3 to a medium EF4, without seeing the damage fields. The one above looks more ferocious because of the plowed earth rising skyward.
Curiously, a tornado is not unlike a hurricane like Irma. There is a calm center, and the barometric pressure in the eye is a lot lower than the surrounding pressure. They're fascinating. I've been on a few tornado chases before, many years ago, but people are getting crazy about it now. I blame the TV shows, but you can't tell people what they can and can't do. The thing is, they get in the way of the serious tornado researchers, even follow them around so they can get a tornado vacation for free (or so they think).
Maybe they are getting a bit stronger, but the conditions that cause tornadoes are a lot different than the ones that cause hurricanes. There still have to be two opposing fronts colliding, and those conditions have existed since god created the earth 6,000 years ago. 
That's a bit of sarcasm there, sorry. 
