Adjust the funnel width of the tornado and core pressure difference (between the surrounding air and the center of the funnel) in the simulation, click the "Go" button and observe the different types of wind damage tornadoes can produce.

All tornadoes, and most other severe local windstorms, are assigned a single number from the Fujita Scale according to the most intense damage caused by the storm.
Here is a breakdown of the Fujita (F) scale:
  • F0 (weak): 40- 72 mph, light damage.
  • F1 (weak): 73-112 mph, moderate damage.
  • F2 (strong): 113-157 mph, considerable damage.
  • F3 (strong): 158-206 mph, severe damage.
  • F4 (violent): 207-260 mph, devastating damage.
  • F5 (violent): 261-318 mph, (rare) incredible damage.

    • The trademark of a strong cumulonimbus cloud is the overshooting top, a “cauliflower-like” cloud structure extending above the anvil of the storm like a dome. Overshooting tops locate the strongest updraft in a thunderstorm and the place where severe weather is most likely to develop at the surface.

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