Tornadoes

Tornadoes can strike anywhere in the United States with little or no warning and are capable of causing significant loss of life and billions of dollars in damages.  It is important that every community be prepared by understanding tornadoes and the associated dangers.

Locate Tornado on Radar

Enhanced Fujita scale

The Enhanced Fujita scale, an updated version of the original Fujita scale that was developed by Ted Fujita with Allen Pearson, assigns a numerical rating from EF0 to EF5 to rate the damage intensity of tornadoes. EF0 and EF1 tornadoes are considered "weak" tornadoes, EF2 and EF3 are classified as "strong" tornadoes, with winds of at least major hurricane force, where EF4 and EF5 are categorized as "violent" tornadoes, with winds corresponding to category 5 hurricane winds and rising to match or exceed the strongest tropical cyclones on record. The EF scale is based on tornado damage (primarily to buildings), which makes it difficult to rate tornadoes that strike in sparsely populated areas, where few man-made structures are found.

FEMA AWR-326 Tornado Awareness Course

AWR-326 - Tornado Awareness

Tornadoes can strike anywhere in the United States with little or no warning and are capable of causing significant loss of life and billions of dollars in damages.  It is important that every community be prepared by understanding tornadoes and the associated dangers.

This awareness level course helps participants to better understand the basics of tornado science, the weather forecasting process, and the tornado warning process.  Participants will also be better able to implement safety measures for themselves, their families and their organizations in preparation for tornado season.

The goal of this course is to provide participants with the basics of tornado science, forecasting, warning, and preparedness.

Course Modules include:

  • Science of Tornadoes
  • Weather Forecast Process
  • Tornado Warning Process
  • Tornado Safety