What Damage Does an F1 Tornado Do?

F1 tornadoes cause moderate damage, and can be dangerous.

The most widely accepted intensity rating scale for tornadoes prior to 2008 was the Fujita scale, which classified tornadoes based on the damage they caused to the landscape and man-made structures. The Fujita scale categorizes tornadoes from F0 up to the incredibly devastating F5. Tornadoes classified as F1 were the second weakest, more powerful only than F0 twisters.

Man-Made Structures

F1 tornadoes are powerful enough to completely destroy carports and attached garages. Unattached homes, such as mobile homes or manufactured homes, can be overturned, causing significant structural damage and severe injury to occupants. Additional damage may include broken windows and peeled-off roofs; moving cars might be blown off the road.

Natural Damage

Damage to natural structures can be significant. Large trees or trees with deep root systems can be snapped at the trunk, while smaller trees and saplings will be uprooted completely. The lower limit of the wind speed range is also the low limit for a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.

Estimated Wind & Prevalence

It is estimated that 39 percent of tornadoes fall into the F1 class, according to the Environment Canada website. These tornadoes will have wind speeds between 73 mph (117 kph) and 112 mph (180 kph).

References

• Environment Canada: Fujita Scale
• Storm Prediction Center: Fujita Tornado Damage Scale

Resources

• Tornado Damage