F5 Tornado

A Picture of the 1992 F5 Chandler Tornado

An F5 tornado is the most intense tornado on the retired Fujita Scale. An F5 will have wind speeds greater than 261 mph (419 km/h). Some of the deadliest and costliest tornadic events in world history were caused by F5 tornadoes. On the Enhanced Fujita Scale, the tornado damage scale that replaced the Fujita Scale, an F5 tornado is now an EF5 tornado. An EF5 tornado has wind speeds exceeding 201+ mph (322+ km/h).

F5 tornadoes are a rare occurrence. Between 1950 and 2007 there have only been 50 verified F5 tornadoes. The deadliest tornado in U.S. was an F5 tornado on March 18th, 1925, the Tri-State Tornado. Below you’ll find a jaw-dropping facts about F5 tornadoes, a list of notable F5s in tornado history, pictures of F5 tornado funnel clouds and a complete list of F5 tornadoes between 1950 and 2007.

F5 Tornado Facts

  1. An F5 tornado is the strongest tornado on the retried Fujita Scale.
  2. An F5 tornado has wind speeds equal or greater than 261 mph (419 km/h).
  3. Damage from an F5 tornado is described as incredible.
  4. In the United States, between 1950 and Jan 31st, 2007, there was 50 confirmed F5 tornadoes.
  5. In the United States, between 1950 and Jan 31st, 2007, there was 1,103 confirmed fatalities from F5 tornadoes.
  6. In the United States, between 1950 and Jan 31st, 2007, there was 10,992 confirmed injuries from F5 tornadoes.
  7. In the United States, between 1950 and Jan 31st, 2007, there has been an average of one F5 tornado per year in the United States.
  8. In the United States, between 1950 and Jan 31st, 2007, the U.S. state of Texas had the most F5 tornadoes.
  9. 1974 was the year with the most F5 tornadoes.
  10. April is the month most likely to produce an F5 tornado.
  11. The earliest tornado in world history to be rated an F5 was on June 29th, 1764, in Woldegk, MV in Germany.
  12. On the current Enhanced Fujita Scale, an F5 tornado is now called an EF5 tornado.

Notable F5 Tornadoes

  • 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore Tornado – An F5 tornado that occurred on May 3rd, 1999. It killed 36 people.
  • 1989 Daulatpur-Saturia Tornado – A potential F5 tornado that occurred on April 26th, 1989. It killed an estimated 1,300+ people.
  • 1925 Tri-State Tornado – An F5 tornado that occurred on March 18th, 1925. It killed 695 people.
  • 1896 St. Louis-East St. Louis Tornado – An F5 tornado that occurred on May 27th, 1896. It killed 255 people.
  • 1840 Great Natchez Tornado – An estimated F5 tornado that occurred on May 7th, 1840. It killed 317 people.

List of all F5 Tornadoes (1950 to February 2007)

Below is a list of all verified F5 tornadoes that occurred between 1950 and February 2007. Tornadoes after February 2007 are rated using the Enhanced Fujita Scale, an equivalent strength tornado would be an EF5 tornado.

Occurance Number Date Occured Location
50 05-03-1999 Bridge Creek/Moore, OK
49 04-16-1998 Waynesboro, TN
48 04-08-1998 Oak Grove/Pleasant Grove, AL
47 05-27-1997 Jarrell, TX
46 07-18-1996 Oakfield, WI
45 06-16-1992 Chandler, MN
44 04-26-1991 Andover, KS
43 08-28-1990 Plainfield, IL
42 03-13-1990 Goessel, KS
41 03-13-1990 Hesston, KS
40 05-31-1985 Niles, OH
39 06-07-1984 Barneveld, WI
38 04-02-1982 Broken Bow, OK
37 04-04-1977 Birmingham, AL
36 06-13-1976 Jordan, IA
35 04-19-1976 Brownwood, TX
34 03-26-1976 Spiro, OK
33 04-03-1974 Guin, AL
32 04-03-1974 Tanner, AL
31 04-03-1974 Mt. Hope, AL
30 04-03-1974 Sayler Park, OH
29 04-03-1974 Brandenburg, KY
28 04-03-1974 Xenia, OH
27 04-03-1974 Daisy Hill, IN
26 05-06-1973 Valley Mills, TX
25 02-21-1971 Delhi, LA
24 05-11-1970 Lubbock, TX
23 06-13-1968 Tracy, MN
22 05-15-1968 Maynard, IA
21 05-15-1968 Charles City, IA
20 04-23-1968 Gallipolis, OH
19 10-14-1966 Belmond, IA
18 06-08-1966 Topeka, KS
17 03-03-1966 Jackson, MS
16 05-08-1965 Gregory, SD
15 05-05-1964 Bradshaw, NE
14 04-03-1964 Wichita Falls, TX
13 05-05-1960 Prague, OK
12 06-04-1958 Menomonie, WI
11 12-18-1957 Sunfield, IL
10 06-20-1957 Fargo, ND
9 05-20-1957 Ruskin Heights, MO
8 04-03-1956 Grand Rapids, MI
7 05-25-1955 Udall, KS
6 05-25-1955 Blackwell, OK
5 12-05-1953 Vicksburg, MS
4 06-27-1953 Adair, IA
3 06-08-1953 Flint, MI
2 05-29-1953 Ft. Rice, ND
1 05-11-1953 Waco, TX