The National Weather Service adapted the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale on February 1, 2007 to rate tornadoes. The enhanced scale has six categories, EF0 to EF5, representing increasing levels of damage. It was revised to better estimate wind speeds by considering different types of construction and low-populated areas with few structures. The enhanced scale offers more detailed descriptions of potential damages by using 28 Damage Indicators based on different building structures and vegetation.
| Enhanced Fujita Scale |
| Scale |
Wind Speed (mph/kph) Damages |
| EF0 |
65–85/105–137 |
Tree branches break off, trees with shallow roots fall over; house siding and gutters damaged; some roof shingles peel off or other minor roof damage. |
| EF1 |
86–110/137–177 |
Mobile homes overturned; doors, windows, and glass broken; severe damage to roofs. |
| EF2 |
111–135/178–217 |
Large tree trunks split and big trees fall over; mobile homes destroyed, and homes on foundations are shifted; cars lifted off the ground; roofs torn off; some lighter objects thrown at the speed of missiles. |
| EF3 |
136–165/218–265 |
Trees broken and debarked; mobile homes completely destroyed and houses on foundations lose stories, and buildings with weaker foundations are lifted and blown distances; commercial buildings such as shopping malls are severely damaged; heavy cars are thrown and trains are tipped over. |
| EF4 |
166–200/266–322 |
Frame houses leveled; cars thrown long distances; larger objects become dangerous projectiles. |
| EF5 |
>200/>323 |
Homes are completely destroyed and even steel-reinforced buildings are severely damaged; objects the size of cars are thrown distances of 300 feet (90 meters) or more. Total devastation. |
