If there was an F-6 tornado somewhere when and where did it happen? i know there was a tornado that went 318 mph but I think it has to go to 319 mph to be an F-6 but i dont know im probably wrong (your thoughts)
2007-05-31 18:12:32 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
(Updated answer added below.) No, the 318 mph you mentioned was an estimated wind speed from a portable Doppler radar that was considered aloft from the surface (radar beam pointing slightly upwards). This wind speed estimation can not be used to determine the F-Scale for the following reasons.
1. The F-Scale uses only the surface damage caused by the tornado to determine which level a tornado will be classified. So a radar estimated wind speed can not be used.
2. The F-Scale estimated winds are surface winds. This wind speed from the Doppler radar was estimated from a height that was considered above what we defined as surface level wind.
In addition, since the F-Scale does not define what a F-6 tornado is, we can only use the highest level of F-5 for any tornado stronger than a F-4.
There is a new EF-Scale. This new scale also goes up to level 5 too. So there will never be anything higher than a level 5 tornado unless the definitions are changed and a level 6 is added to the current definitions.
I think a lot of confusion comes from the original F-Scale research work. The F-Scale is really a scale of damage caused by a tornado and not a true wind scale. So the F-scale is the level of how damaging the tornado was. Wind estimated speed was added as many would ask what range of wind speed may have cause this type of damage. This first work had the F-scale with 13 levels if you are counting the F0 level. But it was agreed that from surface damage, it will be nearly impossible to determine anything higher than damage from F-5 scale of damage. So the agreement was that the F-Scale will end at 5 as maximum. With the advancement of technology, maybe someday we may able to measure a surface reading that would be higher than the F-5 scale. But this will likely be determined not from damage, but some other modern wind measuring equipment. So by current definition, it will still be considered a F-5. I'm sure that if this does happen in the future, they will open up the debate to add an F-6 level to the current definition. Until then, the upper limit to the official F-Scale or new EF-scale will remain at level 5.
The following link will take you to the final storm survey report for the May 5, 1999 tornado outbreak that produced a F-5 tornado.
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/storms/19990503/
The local case study for this outbreak can be found on this link below.
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/divisions/warning/swat/Cases/990503/case.html
2007-06-01 00:37:42 · answer #1 · answered by UALog 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no a for a tornado to be rated as a f-6 it has to go 319 mph this tornado you are talking about went 318 but a tornado is usually rated on the path of destruction left behind from the tornado.
2007-06-03 04:05:18 · answer #2 · answered by crystal_durso 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
F-6 Inconceivable tornado (319-379 mph): These winds are very unlikely. The small area of damage they might produce would probably not be recognizable along with the mess produced by F-4 and F-5 wind that would surround the F-6 winds. Missiles, such as cars and refrigerators would do serious secondary damage that could not be directly identified as F-6 damage. If this level is ever achieved, evidence for it might only be found in some manner of ground swirl pattern, for it may never be identifiable through engineering studies.
2007-05-31 18:22:17 · answer #3 · answered by Ronnie 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I once watched a show on TV where there was a tornado so bad, they wondered if it could be categorized as an F-6. According to the Fujita scale, there won't be one. However, if they changed the scale and added F-6, there would probably be a few tornados put in that section.
2016-05-18 02:24:39 · answer #4 · answered by paris 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, the highest is F5. F5 tornado speed 261-318. The most of the damage is strong frame houses leveled off foundations and swept away; automobile-sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 meters (109 yds); trees debarked; incredible phenomena will occur.
2007-05-31 19:33:42 · answer #5 · answered by jason 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, there has. Back in May of 1999, the tornado outbreak in the state of Oklahoma.. primarily in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. If I am not mistaken, it was the tornado that struck Moore, Oklahoma.
It can happen, but it is extremely EXTREMELY rare. Same with F-5's as well. Such as the one that hit Greensburg, KS.
2007-06-01 13:35:52 · answer #6 · answered by ~ Miss Naomi ~ 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, the highest rating is an EF-5. The E means extended, i.e., an F-5 that is more than a half mile wide.
2007-05-31 18:19:15 · answer #7 · answered by STEVE C 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
But this one goes up to 11.
2007-06-01 01:28:16 · answer #8 · answered by Lorenzo Steed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably, but WAY before the Fujita scale was conceived. You know the F-whatever ratings? Fujita scale? right......
2007-06-04 11:06:59 · answer #9 · answered by The Cat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES KNOWN AS THE FINGER OF GOD.... IT ONLY HAPPEND ONCE IN RECARDS IN 1932 IN KANSAS.... A MILE WIDE AND WENT ON FOR 200 MILES OF PURE DESTRUCTION
2007-05-31 18:17:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋