Tornado WARNING: How large can path of a tornado be?
TORNADO warnings are being tested this week across the US, but how large can the path of a tornado be?
Alabama: Shocking footage reveals aftermath of tornado
There were 18 tornadoes across Ohio in 2018 according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Tornado season peaks between April and July in Ohio, however, tornadoes can form every month of the year.
Last week, tornadoes were confirmed in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana due to a string of severe storms which tracked across the states ahead of a strong cold front according to the NWS.
Severe weather week is a time for the weather service and Ohio Emergency Management to make residents aware of the signs of a tornado.
These include a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud, an approaching cloud of debris, or a loud roar – similar to a freight train.
How large can path of a tornado be?
According to the Fujita-Pearson Tornado Scale, these are the size and speeds tornadoes can reach:
F0 - Gale Tornado (40-72mph)
Path length 0.3-0.9miles, path width 16-19 yards
Light damage; Some damage to chimneys; branches will be broken off trees; shallow-rooted trees pushed over; sign boards damaged.
F1 - Moderate Tornado (73 - 112 mph)
Path length: 1.0-3.1 miles, path width: 18-55 yards
Moderate damage; The lower limit is the beginning of hurricane wind speed; peels surface off roofs; mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned; moving autos pushed off the road; attached garages may be destroyed.
F2 - Significant Tornado (113 - 157 mph)
Path length: 3.2-9.9 miles, path width: 56-175 yards
Considerable damage; entire roofs torn from frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars pushed over; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-object missiles generated.
F3 - Severe Tornado (158 - 206 mph)
Path length: 10-31 miles, path width: 176-566 yards
Severe damage; walls torn from well-constructed houses; trains overturned; most trees in forests uprooted; heavy cars lifted off ground and thrown.
F4 - Devastating Tornado (207 - 260 mph)
Path length: 32-99 miles, path width: 0.3-0.9 miles
Well-constructed houses levelled; structures with weak foundations blown off some distance; cars could be thrown and large missiles generated.
F5 - Incredible Tornado (261 - 318 mph)
Path length: 100-315 miles, path width: 1.0-3.1 miles
Strong frame houses lifted off foundations and carried considerable distances to disintegrate; automobile-sized missiles fly through the air 100 yards or more; trees debarked; steel reinforced concrete structures badly damaged.