Weather Definitions
El Niño
An extensive warming that begins along the coast of Peru and Ecuador; occurs
once every 3 to 7 years. El Nino refers to "the time of your (Christmas) which
these countries notice changes in fishing". El Nino means "the little boy" -
which refers to the Christ Child.
Funnel Cloud
Often the initial phase of a tornado, it's a rotating column of air extending from a
cloud but not reaching the ground
La Niña
Condition where the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean waters turn
cooler than normal. Opposite of El Nino!
Tornado
The most violent of all storms, it's a strong, rotating column of air extending
from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud to the ground
Click Here for more info on tornadoes
Fujita Scale
SCALE WIND Estimate (MPH) TYPICAL DAMAGE
F0 < 73 Light damage. Some damage to chimneys; branches broken off trees;
shallow-rooted trees pushed over; sign boards damaged.
F1 73-112 Moderate damage. Peels surface off roofs; mobile homes pushed
off foundations or overturned; moving autos blown off roads.
F2 113-157 Considerable damage. Roofs torn off frame houses; mobile
homes demolished; boxcars overturned; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-
object missiles generated; cars lifted off ground.
F3 158-206 Severe damage. Roofs and some walls torn off well-constructed
houses; trains overturned; most trees in forest uprooted; heavy cars lifted off
the ground and thrown.
F4 207-260 Devastating damage. Well-constructed houses leveled; structures
with weak foundations blown away some distance; cars thrown and large
missiles generated.
F5 261-318 Incredible damage. 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.
An update to the the original F-scale by a team of meteorologists and wind
engineers, to be implemented in the U.S. on 1 February 2007.
EF0 Wind speed 65–85 mph 105–137 km/h
EF0 damage exampleLight damage.
Peels surface off some roofs; some damage to gutters or siding; branches
broken off trees; shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
Confirmed tornadoes with no reported damage (i.e. those that remain in open
fields) are always rated EF0.
EF1 Wind speed 86–110 mph 138–178 km/h
EF1 damage exampleModerate damage.
Roofs severely stripped; mobile homes overturned or badly damaged; loss of
exterior doors; windows and other glass broken.
EF2 Wind speed 111–135 mph 179–218 km/h
EF2 damage exampleConsiderable damage.
Roofs torn off well-constructed houses; foundations of frame homes shifted;
mobile homes completely destroyed; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-
object missiles generated; cars lifted off ground.
EF3 Wind speed 136–165 mph 219–266 km/h
EF3 damage exampleSevere damage.
Entire stories of well-constructed houses destroyed; severe damage to large
buildings such as shopping malls; trains overturned; trees debarked; heavy
cars lifted off the ground and thrown; structures with weak foundations blown
away some distance.
EF4 Wind speed 166–200 mph 267–322 km/h
EF4 damage exampleDevastating damage.
Well-constructed houses and whole frame houses completely leveled; cars
thrown and small missiles generated.
EF5 Wind speed >200 mph >322 km/h
EF5 damage exampleIncredible damage.
Strong frame houses leveled off foundations and swept away; automobile-
sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 m (109 yd); steel reinforced
concrete structure badly damaged; high-rise buildings have significant
structural deformation; incredible phenomena will occur.
An extensive warming that begins along the coast of Peru and Ecuador; occurs
once every 3 to 7 years. El Nino refers to "the time of your (Christmas) which
these countries notice changes in fishing". El Nino means "the little boy" -
which refers to the Christ Child.
Funnel Cloud
Often the initial phase of a tornado, it's a rotating column of air extending from a
cloud but not reaching the ground
La Niña
Condition where the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean waters turn
cooler than normal. Opposite of El Nino!
Tornado
The most violent of all storms, it's a strong, rotating column of air extending
from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud to the ground
Click Here for more info on tornadoes
Fujita Scale
SCALE WIND Estimate (MPH) TYPICAL DAMAGE
F0 < 73 Light damage. Some damage to chimneys; branches broken off trees;
shallow-rooted trees pushed over; sign boards damaged.
F1 73-112 Moderate damage. Peels surface off roofs; mobile homes pushed
off foundations or overturned; moving autos blown off roads.
F2 113-157 Considerable damage. Roofs torn off frame houses; mobile
homes demolished; boxcars overturned; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-
object missiles generated; cars lifted off ground.
F3 158-206 Severe damage. Roofs and some walls torn off well-constructed
houses; trains overturned; most trees in forest uprooted; heavy cars lifted off
the ground and thrown.
F4 207-260 Devastating damage. Well-constructed houses leveled; structures
with weak foundations blown away some distance; cars thrown and large
missiles generated.
F5 261-318 Incredible damage. 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.
An update to the the original F-scale by a team of meteorologists and wind
engineers, to be implemented in the U.S. on 1 February 2007.
EF0 Wind speed 65–85 mph 105–137 km/h
EF0 damage exampleLight damage.
Peels surface off some roofs; some damage to gutters or siding; branches
broken off trees; shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
Confirmed tornadoes with no reported damage (i.e. those that remain in open
fields) are always rated EF0.
EF1 Wind speed 86–110 mph 138–178 km/h
EF1 damage exampleModerate damage.
Roofs severely stripped; mobile homes overturned or badly damaged; loss of
exterior doors; windows and other glass broken.
EF2 Wind speed 111–135 mph 179–218 km/h
EF2 damage exampleConsiderable damage.
Roofs torn off well-constructed houses; foundations of frame homes shifted;
mobile homes completely destroyed; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-
object missiles generated; cars lifted off ground.
EF3 Wind speed 136–165 mph 219–266 km/h
EF3 damage exampleSevere damage.
Entire stories of well-constructed houses destroyed; severe damage to large
buildings such as shopping malls; trains overturned; trees debarked; heavy
cars lifted off the ground and thrown; structures with weak foundations blown
away some distance.
EF4 Wind speed 166–200 mph 267–322 km/h
EF4 damage exampleDevastating damage.
Well-constructed houses and whole frame houses completely leveled; cars
thrown and small missiles generated.
EF5 Wind speed >200 mph >322 km/h
EF5 damage exampleIncredible damage.
Strong frame houses leveled off foundations and swept away; automobile-
sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 m (109 yd); steel reinforced
concrete structure badly damaged; high-rise buildings have significant
structural deformation; incredible phenomena will occur.
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