| F0 - F1 | F2 - F3 | F4 - F5 |
| Weak | Strong | Violent |
The Enhanced Fujita Scale was implemented in the U.S. on February 1, 2007. It's wind speed estimates include damage surveys after a 3-second gust of wind and are based on a judgment of eight levels of damage to 28 indicators. For more information, go to the NOAA website.
| F0 | 40-72 mph (3-second gust: 65-85 mph) |
Gale Tornado--light damage. Some damage to chimneys; break branches off trees; push over shallow-rooted trees; damage sign boards. |
| F1 | 73-112 mph (3-second gust: 86-110 mph) |
Moderate Tornado--moderate damage. The lower limit is the beginning of hurricane wind speed; peel surface off roofs; mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned; moving autos pushed off the roads. |
| F2 | 113-157 mph (3-second gust: 111-135 mph) |
Significant Tornado--considerable damage. Roofs torn off frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars pushed over; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-object missiles generated. |
| F3 | 158-206 mph (3-second gust: 136-165 mph) |
Severe Tornado--severe damage. Roofs and some walls torn off well-constructed houses; trains overturned; most trees in forest uprooted; heavy cars lifted off the ground and thrown. |
| F4 | 207-260 mph (3-second gust: 166-200 mph) |
Devastating Tornado--devastating damage. Well-constructed houses leveled; structures with weak foundations blown off some distance; cars thrown and large missiles generated. |
| F5 | 261-318 mph (3-second gust: 200+ mph) |
Incredible Tornado--Incredible damage. Strong frame houses lifted off foundations and carried considerable distance to disintegrate; automobile-sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 meters (109 yds.); trees debarked; incredible phenomena will occur. |
| F6 - F12 | 319 mph - MACH 1 (speed of sound) | The maximum wind speeds of tornadoes are not expected to reach the F6 wind speeds. |