NOAA National Weather Service’s Improved Tornado Rating System Now Operational

Monday, February 5th, 2007 Catastrophe Property

The NOAA National Weather Service fully implemented the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale to rate tornadoes, replacing the original Fujita Scale. The EF scale will continue to rate tornadoes on a scale from zero to five, but ranges in wind speed will be more accurate with the improved rating scale. "The EF scale provides more detailed guidelines that will allow the NOAA National Weather Service to more accurately rate tornadoes that strike the United States," said Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), director of the NOAA National Weather Service. "The EF scale still estimates wind speeds but more precisely takes into account the materials affected and the construction of the structures damaged by the tornado."

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http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/s2788.htm

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