Excited to announce that my method for estimating wind speeds based on lofted debris in tornadoes was used as contextual evidence for upgrading the Enderlin, ND tornado to an EF5!
doi.org/10.1175/MWR-...
#NDwx #Enderlin #EF5 #Tornado
OTD in 2004:
📍 Roanoke, Illinois
A violent F4 tornado tore through the area, with estimated wind speeds between 210-240 mph. It traveled 9.6 miles, reached a peak width of 440 yards, and resulted in 3 injuries, but remarkably, no fatalities.
After reviewing several additional photos of the June 5th, 2024 EF1 tornado in Eldersburg, Maryland, I reached out to NWS Sterling to determine whether the images might support an upgrade to EF2. Following a week of analysis, they officially upgraded the tornado to EF2 with 120 mph winds.
Wow, looks like there was a tornado in Juneau, Alaska on June 16th. This appears to be a landspout tornado that occurred as a severe thunderstorm passed through the area. Incredible!
Video from Romeo_Glacier in r/alaska on Reddit. Video link in the replies.
Tornado ongoing north of Paynesville, Missouri. Crossing into Calhoun County, Illinois now.
Strong tornado just occurred east-southeast of Salina, Oklahoma. Debris ball and TDS associated with it.
Strong tornado still continues at 8:18 PM CDT (0118z) from COW2 Mobile Radar. Impressive vortex hole!
Some impressive afternoon thunderstorms moved through eastern New Port Richey, Florida earlier today. The storms produced strong downbursts and made a few weak attempts at tornadogenesis, but all were disrupted by outflow-dominant conditions.
Of course! I’m trying to get more active on other platforms.
Yesterday’s highly photogenic, deviant tornado near Dickens, Nebraska has been rated a high-end EF2, with estimated peak winds near 135 mph. Numerous trees near the end of its path were denuded and debarked, resulting in a high-end EF2 rating.
Tornado photo courtesy of Lincoln Co. Sheriff's Office.
The sunrise few days ago in Daytona Beach, Florida. I was visiting Embry-Riddle to tour the campus and meet the professors, I loved it there!
Twin tornadoes in a field in Iowa
Tornado with supercell
Wedge tornado in the distance
Grungy tornado down the road from me
2 years ago today, I saw the most violent tornadoes I've ever seen near Keota, Iowa during the 3rd largest tornado outbreak on record. #tornado
Preliminary intensity guidance for the tornado that struck SE of Columbia, Mississippi (Mar. 31, 2025):
The tool indicates low-end EF3 (140 mph), with a possible range of 130-150 mph (EF2/EF3), pending NWS damage surveys.
This is an estimation, not an official rating.
All tropical cyclone reports for the 2024 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season are now available: www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/ind...
The final two reports, released yesterday, cover Hurricane John (C3/105 kt) and an Unnamed Tropical Storm (TS/35 kt).
If you have any questions, please let me know!
Note, I am not attempting to criticize the NWS at all. I simply enjoy analyzing tornado damage surveys in detail and sharing my personal observations and opinions! Also note, the revised EF scale is unreleased and the DIs shown here are still in draft, and could be adjusted in the finalized version.
The Rivers Edge Apartments' damage appears overrated. Misapplication of DoDs likely inflated the EF4 rating. Based on observed structural and tree damage, I believe the area’s rating should be EF3 (145 mph) overall.
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Trees: DI-28 (Multiple Trees) with DoD-6 [Greater than 75% of large trees snapped or uprooted; numerous trees may be stubbed, with only stubs of large limbs remaining]. Applying "EXP," this results in a low-end EF3 rating (145 mph).
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With the updated EF scale:
Apartments: DI-5 and DoD-7 [Most exterior walls collapsed on top stories with most interior walls remaining and/or almost all the roof structure are removed (>75%)]. With "EXP," this damage is better rated as high-end EF2 (135 mph).
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using upper-bound criteria, leading to an EF4 rating.
I suggest using DoD-5 [Trees debarked with only stubs of large branches remaining] with the "EXP" classification. This adjustment would yield a low-end EF3 rating (145 mph) for the tree damage.
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a low-end EF3 rating (140 mph) for the apartment damage.
The tornado also flattened a 1,200-ft-wide swath of trees along the Stillwater River. Many were denuded and debarked, but these trees are not particularly strong. NWS classified this area under DI-27 (Hardwood Trees)
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Based on my analysis, neither DoD-5 nor DoD-6 matches the observed damage. Instead, DoD-4 [Uplift or collapse of roof structure, leaving most walls standing] is more appropriate. Considering the apartments were well-constructed, the "EXP" designation applies. This results in—
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of top two stories (EF4/180 mph).
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Most buildings at Rivers Edge Apartments lost their roofs, with some exterior walls on the top stories collapsing. The NWS applied DI-5 (Apartments, Condos, Townhouses) with DoDs 5 and 6:
DoD-5: Most top-story walls collapsed (EF3/160 mph)
DoD-6: Almost total destruction—
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On May 27, 2019, a low-end EF4 tornado tore through Montgomery County, Ohio, including the Rivers Edge Apartments. However, I believe the damage in this area was overrated based on the misuse of Damage Indicators (DIs) and Degrees of Damage (DoDs).
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🌪 Damage Analysis: Dayton, Ohio EF4 Tornado [Rivers Edge Apartments] (May 27, 2019) 🌪️
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Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! My plate appears to have been an EF3 (150 mph) DI…
If anyone has questions or comments regarding the mentioned tornadoes, or has other suggestions, please let me know.
