A weak tornado that was seen in Southeast Colorado. Click on image for full size (19 Kb) Courtesy of University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Photo by Linda Lusk

Tornadoes come in three different sizes, each with different characteristics. The three sizes are: weak, strong, and violent. Their size is dependent not only on their physical width but is part of the Enhanced Fujita Scale that includes a smaller number of groups and their average duration.

Weak tornadoes make up 69% of all tornadoes. Less than 5% of the total deaths caused by tornadoes are from weak tornadoes. A weak tornado lasts from 1-10 minutes or maybe a little longer. Winds within this category of tornado are less than 100 mph (161 kph). The weak tornado category corresponds to an F0 or F1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Only light or moderate damage occurs with this type of tornado. This damage could include, but is not limited to: breaking branches from trees, pushing over shallow rooted trees, peeling off the surface of roofs, and pushing houses off their foundations.

Strong tornadoes account for 29% of all tornadoes. Close to 30% of all tornado deaths are from a strong tornado. These tornadoes can last 20 minutes or at times even longer. The wind speed range for strong tornadoes is 110-205 mph (177-330 kph). According to the Enhanced Fujita Scale, strong tornadoes correlate with the F2 and F3 tornadoes. These tornadoes cause considerable to severe damage, including: tearing roofs off the frames of houses, demolishing mobile homes, overturning trains, and uprooting most trees in a forest.

Violent tornadoes are the least common and account for 2% of all tornadoes. These tornadoes cause 70% of tornado deaths. Their duration can be longer than an hour. Wind speeds for violent tornadoes are typically greater than 205 mph (330 kph). This type of tornado is a representation of F4 and F5 tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Devastating or incredible damage occurs in violent tornadoes. This damage includes: leveling well constructed houses, throwing cars, lifting strong frame houses off of their foundations and carrying them a great distance, and debarking trees.

A weak tornado that was seen in Southeast Colorado. Click on image for full size (19 Kb) Courtesy of University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Photo by Linda Lusk

Tornadoes come in three different sizes, each with different characteristics. The three sizes are: weak, strong, and violent. Their size is based on how large the tornado is as well as the time that the tornado lasts and how it compares to the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

A weak tornado is the most common type of tornado and makes up 69% of all tornadoes. The least number of deaths happen from this type of tornado, and the longest they can last is a little more than 10 minutes. Winds within this category of tornado are less than 100 mph (161 kph). Weak tornadoes are part of the first two categories of the Fujita Scale (F0 & F1). Damage from a weak tornado can include broken tree branches and peeling off the roofs from houses and buildings.

Strong tornadoes include 29% of all tornadoes. This type of tornado causes 30% of all deaths from tornadoes. Wind speeds for strong tornadoes are between 110-205 mph (177-330 kph). These tornadoes can last 20 minutes or even longer. Demolished mobile homes and overturned trains are part of the damage that could happen from a strong tornado.

While a violent tornado is the least common, it is very deadly. Violent tornadoes make up 70% of all tornado deaths. This type of tornado can last over an hour. Wind speeds for violent tornadoes are typically greater than 205 mph (330 kph). A violent tornado is part of the last two categories on the Fujita Scale (F4 & F5). These tornadoes can do a lot of damage, including throwing cars and picking up well built houses and carrying them for miles.

A weak tornado that was seen in Southeast Colorado. Click on image for full size (19 Kb) Courtesy of University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Photo by Linda Lusk

Tornadoes have three sizes. The size of the tornado shows how big the tornado is and how long it will live.

A weak tornado is the most common size of tornadoes. These tornadoes last for a very short time. The wind from this size of tornado is rather small compared to the other sizes. Weak tornadoes can cause minor damage.

Strong tornadoes are the middle of the size range for tornadoes. More people have died from strong tornadoes than from weak tornadoes. Strong tornadoes last for 20 minutes or longer. Strong tornadoes can rip trains of their track and turn them over.