Understanding the Three Categories of Tornados

Are wind events covered by your Indiana home insurance? Did you know tornadoes are divided into three separate classes? The category they are placed in is determined by evaluating a number of factors: their wind speed, their size, how long they last, and their rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, a system of determining a tornado’s severity.

 

The National Weather Service uses the following guidelines to place twisters in the right group:

•The first type is weak tornados. These are typically classified as F0 or F1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. About 69 percent of all cyclones fit into this group. These twisters can be categories by wind speeds lower than 110 mph and a lifespan of 10 minutes or less. The tornados in this cluster account for less than 5 percent of all twister-related deaths.

•Strong tornados are the second kind. An estimated 29 percent of all twisters belong in this group. These tornados can last 20 minutes or longer and boast wind speeds between 110 and 205 mph. Usually labeled as F2s or F3s, these are responsible for 29 percent of the tornado deaths each year.
•Only 2 percent of all twisters will be given the title of “violent.” Typically reserved for F4s and F5s, they cause 70 percent of all tornado-related deaths. These storms can last longer than an hour and have 200mph+ wind speeds..

While Indiana rarely sees a tornado above the F2 rating, it is important to for all residents to know stronger cyclones are possible. Does your Indiana home insurance include tornado coverage? Individuals who are lacking in vital protection should remedy that fact before the next twister forms.

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