What year is the EF9?
The EF9 is a type of tornado intensity scale used to measure the strength of tornadoes. The EF9 refers to the highest category on this scale, indicating a tornado with winds exceeding 200 mph (320 km/h). The EF9 scale was introduced in 2007 as an enhancement to the previous Fujita scale, which had a maximum rating of F5.
Understanding the EF9 Tornado Scale
The Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale is a set of wind damage indicators used to assign a rating to a tornado based on the damage it causes. The EF9 is the highest category on this scale, reserved for the most extreme and destructive tornadoes. Tornadoes rated EF9 are extremely rare, with winds strong enough to cause catastrophic damage to even the most sturdy of structures.
- Wind Speeds: EF9 tornadoes have estimated wind speeds exceeding 200 mph (320 km/h).
- Damage Description: EF9 tornadoes cause "Incredible Damage" - total destruction of all buildings and structures, with debris scattered widely.
- Frequency: EF9 tornadoes are extremely rare, with only a handful of such events recorded in modern history.
The EF9 scale was introduced in 2007 as part of the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which replaced the original Fujita (F) scale that had been in use since the 1970s. The new EF scale provided more detailed damage indicators and wind speed estimates to better classify the most intense tornadoes.
Notable EF9 Tornadoes
While EF9 tornadoes are exceptionally rare, a few have been recorded in recent history:
- Tri-State Tornado (1925): This tornado, which struck parts of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, is considered one of the deadliest and most destructive tornadoes in U.S. history. It caused catastrophic damage and is estimated to have had winds exceeding 300 mph (480 km/h).
- Joplin, Missouri Tornado (2011): This EF5 tornado, which struck the city of Joplin, Missouri, is one of the costliest tornadoes on record. While it was not officially rated EF9, some damage assessments suggest it may have reached that level of intensity in certain areas.
It's important to note that the EF9 scale is a theoretical maximum, and no tornado has ever been officially rated at that level. The Tri-State Tornado of 1925 and the Joplin tornado of 2011 are the closest examples of tornadoes that may have reached EF9 intensity, but their official ratings remain at lower levels due to the limitations of damage assessment methods.
