A Picture of a EF3 Tornado Funnel

EF3 Tornado

An EF3 tornado is the third most intense tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. An EF3 will have wind speed between 136 and 165 mph (218 and 266 km/h). The damage from an EF3 tornado will be severe. On the now retired Fujita Scale, the tornado damage scale that the Enhanced Fujita Scale replaced, an EF3 tornado use to be an F3 tornado. An F3 tornado had wind speeds between 158 and 206 mph (254 and 332 km/h).

An EF3 tornado, the third strongest tornado on the Enhanced Fujita scale, will cause severe damage. EF3 wind speeds can destroy framed and well-constructed homes. Larger buildings, such as retail stores and commercial buildings can be heavily damaged. An entire train can be overturned. The bark can be completely stripped off trees. Weak foundations can be badly damaged.


EF3 Tornado Facts

  1. An EF3 tornado is the third strongest tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
  2. An EF3 tornado has wind speeds between 136 and 165 mph (218 and 266 km/h).
  3. Damage from an EF3 tornado is described as severe.
  4. In the United States, between Feb 1st, 2007 and 2017, there was 309 confirmed EF3 tornadoes.
  5. In the United States, between Feb 1st, 2007 and 2017, there was 265 confirmed fatalities from EF3 tornadoes.
  6. In the United States, between Feb 1st, 2007 and 2017, there was 3,461 confirmed injuries from EF3 tornadoes.
  7. In the United States, between Feb 1st, 2007 and 2017, the deadliest EF3 tornado was on 2/5/2008 and killed 22 people in Tennessee and Kentucky.
  8. In the United States, between Feb 1st, 2007 and 2017, the EF3 tornado to cause the most injuries was on 6/1/2011 and injured 200 people.
  9. In the United States, between Feb 1st, 2007 and 2017, the year with the most EF3 tornadoes was 2011 with 69.
  10. On the retired Fujita Scale, an EF3 tornado was called an F3 tornado.

Notable EF3 Tornadoes

Below is a list of the top 5 deadliest EF3 tornadoes between Feb 1st, 2007 and 2017.

  • On February 05, 2008, in Tennessee and Kentucky, an EF3 tornado killed 22 people.
  • On February 02, 2007, in Florida, an EF3 tornado killed 13 people.
  • On April 16, 2011, in North Carolina, an EF3 tornado killed 12 people.
  • On January 22, 2017, in Georgia, an EF3 tornado killed 11 people.
  • On March 02, 2012, in Kentucky and West Virginia, an EF3 tornado killed 10 people.

Enhanced Fujita Scale