![]() ![]() But yeah, I still think based on the damage, it was a solid EF-5 and the NWS won’t change the rating. So are the engineers claiming that the winds aloft in the tornado might have been EF-5 but the surface winds were only EF-4? I don’t get it. Watch the video taken by chaser Jeff Pitrowski & it’s clear this tornado was extremely violent. I still think the Joplin tornado’s core winds were solidly EF-5, well over 200mph, probably 220-250 max. It went to EF-4/EF-5 status in literally minutes. This tornado had an intense mesocyclone, probably one of the most intense ever in recent history, and amazingly rapid strengthening. I seriously doubt Joplin was lower than EF-5. I haven’t ever been to Joplin but based on the horrific pictures taken after the tornado, the entire town look flattened as if by a nuclear bomb, with only the hospital still standing. I feel better about meteorologists doing the assessing of tornadoes and their damage. They claim that the weak nature of the structures in Joplin led them to conclude this. Regarding the the American Society of Civil Engineers claim that the tornado’s winds might have reached EF-5 strength but that the worst damage done was EF-4, I think this is iffy at best. Engineers found evidence of winds of at least 205mph only inches above the surface, a remarkable figure considering the density of structures and the dramatic slowing effect of ground friction. It is likely that most of the extreme damage occurred in only a few seconds as a result of brief wind features with instantaneous gusts over 250mph. ![]() Video evidence, which is discussed more in depth here, indicates that the massive tornado had exceptionally powerful multiple vortices. Even so, the Joplin storm was one of the most powerful tornadoes ever surveyed, and likely caused the most intense tornado damage ever photographed in an urban area. Additionally, it had a fairly short path length – less than 25 miles. Unlike some infamous EF5’s, the Joplin tornado was rain-wrapped and not clearly documented on film. ![]() The Joplin tornado was an incredible meteorological phenomena. At far right, the tornado left a trail of scoured vegetation and pronounced wind rowing. Just east of Rangeline Road, warehouses were left as bare slabs, and large industrial vehicles were hurled more than 400 yards. Geodetic survey images that were taken immediately after the tornado have been included to verify that the homes were swept away by the tornado, and not bulldozers. Note: Most of the close aerial shots were taken more than a week after the tornado, so some damage clean-up had already taken place. Considering the incredible density of the buildings in Joplin, however, the volume of clean foundations was rather impressive. ![]() The Enhanced Fujita Scale puts great emphasis on homes of superior construction, so a concrete slab is not an obvious indication of EF5 winds. The Joplin tornado left more empty slabs than perhaps any tornado in history. A partially leveled home looks more insidious to the average person than a clean foundation. Damage in the EF3 range tends to be the media standard. Firstly, newspapers and news websites have a history of ignoring photographs of EF5 damage in favor of weaker, yet more commonly recognizable damage. Many online weather enthusiasts have pondered over the veracity of the EF5 rating, and some researchers have stated that there appeared to be few instances of EF5 damage in the tornado’s aftermath. A google search of “Joplin tornado damage” reveals pages of media imagery showing building damage consistent with a tornado of EF3 or low-end EF4 intensity. □ Despite being the deadliest and most destructive tornado in recent history, the Joplin tornado’s awesome strength is sometimes overlooked. Street view of homes that were swept from their foundations along West 26th Street, where some of the most intense damage occurred. ![]()
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