F5/EF5 Tornadoes of the Last 30 Years
Three of the tornadoes I will be discussing came from the April 2011 Super Outbreak - the largest and costliest in history.
Moore, Oklahoma (2013)
This EF5 tornado touched down on the afternoon of May 20th. It traveled a 14 mile path of destruction and caused the deaths of 24 people. The winds generated by this monster were estimated to be over 200 mph.
El Reno, Oklahoma (2013)
This tornado became the widest ever recorded in the United States at 2.6 miles. It killed 9 and injured 181 people. Wind speeds could've gotten as fast as 295 miles per hour.
Joplin, Missouri (2011)
The Joplin Tornado was the costliest tornado in modern US history. With winds estimated at over 200 mph, 161 people lost their lives. The destruction it caused remains the highest insurance payout of Missouri history.
Hackleburg, Alabama (2011)
This devastating wedge tornado lasted for an astounding 2 hours and 35 minutes, allowing it to cause destruction in Tennessee as well. It was the deadliest of the 2011 super outbreak. According to the Red Cross, 75% of the town was destroyed.
Smithville, Mississippi (2011)
With a path of destruction over 37 miles, this violent wedge tornado tragically ended in 23 fatalities. Ground scouring from this tornado was up to 2 feet in depth.
Parkersburg, Iowa (2008)
This tornado was the 2nd deadliest in Iowa's history with 9 fatalities. 280 homes and 22 businesses were destroyed.
Greensburg, Kansas (2007)
In 2007, the Fujita Scale was updated to the Enhanced Fujita Scale, and this was the first EF5 on the new scale. This twister was unthinkably destructive with 11 fatalities, 63 injuries, and 95% of the city destroyed.
Bridge Creek, Oklahoma (1999)
This deadly tornado tragically killed 36 people before fizzling out after a 37 mile path. It is widely regarded as having the strongest winds of any recorded tornado at 318 miles per hour.
Oak Grove, Alabama (1998)
This tornado devastated Oak Grove and surrounding areas with its 3/4 mile width and 31 mile long destruction path. Sadly, it caused 32 lives to be lost.
Jarrell, Texas (1997)
What makes this tornado interesting is that it changed the way many experts expected tornadoes to behave. Tornadoes almost always have an eastward motion, but the Jarrell tornado consistently moved south and south-west with no inclination towards eastward movement. The forward speed was relatively slow at 15mph, meaning that one area could face the intense, consecutive winds for up to 3 minutes. Unfortunately, 27 fatalities occurred.
Moore, Oklahoma (2013)
This EF5 tornado touched down on the afternoon of May 20th. It traveled a 14 mile path of destruction and caused the deaths of 24 people. The winds generated by this monster were estimated to be over 200 mph.
El Reno, Oklahoma (2013)
This tornado became the widest ever recorded in the United States at 2.6 miles. It killed 9 and injured 181 people. Wind speeds could've gotten as fast as 295 miles per hour.
Joplin, Missouri (2011)
The Joplin Tornado was the costliest tornado in modern US history. With winds estimated at over 200 mph, 161 people lost their lives. The destruction it caused remains the highest insurance payout of Missouri history.
Hackleburg, Alabama (2011)
This devastating wedge tornado lasted for an astounding 2 hours and 35 minutes, allowing it to cause destruction in Tennessee as well. It was the deadliest of the 2011 super outbreak. According to the Red Cross, 75% of the town was destroyed.
Smithville, Mississippi (2011)
With a path of destruction over 37 miles, this violent wedge tornado tragically ended in 23 fatalities. Ground scouring from this tornado was up to 2 feet in depth.
Parkersburg, Iowa (2008)
This tornado was the 2nd deadliest in Iowa's history with 9 fatalities. 280 homes and 22 businesses were destroyed.
Greensburg, Kansas (2007)
In 2007, the Fujita Scale was updated to the Enhanced Fujita Scale, and this was the first EF5 on the new scale. This twister was unthinkably destructive with 11 fatalities, 63 injuries, and 95% of the city destroyed.
Bridge Creek, Oklahoma (1999)
This deadly tornado tragically killed 36 people before fizzling out after a 37 mile path. It is widely regarded as having the strongest winds of any recorded tornado at 318 miles per hour.
Oak Grove, Alabama (1998)
This tornado devastated Oak Grove and surrounding areas with its 3/4 mile width and 31 mile long destruction path. Sadly, it caused 32 lives to be lost.
Jarrell, Texas (1997)
What makes this tornado interesting is that it changed the way many experts expected tornadoes to behave. Tornadoes almost always have an eastward motion, but the Jarrell tornado consistently moved south and south-west with no inclination towards eastward movement. The forward speed was relatively slow at 15mph, meaning that one area could face the intense, consecutive winds for up to 3 minutes. Unfortunately, 27 fatalities occurred.