The Fujita Tornado Intensity Scale is a scale of wind damage intensity which wind speeds are inferred from an analysis of wind damage.
Category | Definition and Effect |
FO | Gale tornado (40-72 mph): Light damage. Some damage to chimneys; break branches off trees; push over shallow-rooted trees; damage sign boards. |
F1 | Moderate tornado (73-112 mph): 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 | Significant tornado (113-157 mph): Considerable damage. Roofs torn off frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars pushed over; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-object missiles generated. |
F3 | Severe tornado (158-206 mph): Severe damage. Roofs and some walls torn off well-constructed houses; trains overturned; most trees in forest uprooted; heavy cars lifted off ground and thrown. |
F4 | Devastating tornado (207-260 mph): Devastating damage. Well-constructed houses leveled; structure with weak foundation blown off some distance; cars thrown and large missiles generated. |
F5 | Incredible tornado (261-318 mph): 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 yards; trees debarked; steel-reinforced structures badly damaged; incredible phenomena will occur. |
Valid Time CDT | Product Type/Report | Counties Affected | NWR Log Time | EAS Log Time | Remarks |
0405 | SFP | Southeast SD | NA | NA | "some thunder/ storms could be severe south/ east" - tonight |
0405 | ZFP |
Hanson, McCook and Turner |
NA | NA | "some thunder/ storms could be severe" -tonight |
0435 | SPS | Southeast SD | NA | NA | "Moderate Risk of severe weather today" |
1100 | ZFP | Hanson, McCook, Turner |
NA | NA | "some thunder/ storms could be severe" - tonight |
1147 | SPS | Southeast SD | NA | NA |
"severe winds, "spotter activation likely after 4 PM" |
1550-2200 | SEL8 | McCook | 1548 | NA | Tornado Watch #468 |
1625 | ZFP | McCook, Hanson, Turner |
NA | NA | Tornado Watch for McCook, "severe thunderstorms" Hanson and Turner |
1730 | NOW | McCook, Hanson, Turner |
NA | NA | Thunderstorms this evening "could become severe" |
1845-1955 | SVR | Beadle | NA | NA | |
1850 | NOW | Huron (city) | NA | NA | storms impact on Huron |
1903 | SVS | Beadle | NA | NA | Pathcast update |
1919 | .75 inch hail | Beadle | 3 W of Huron | ||
1923 | SVR | Beadle | NA | NA | |
1940-2010 | SVR | Sanborn | 1937 | NA | 10 to 40 miles northwest of Spencer |
1944-2015 | SVR | NE Davison N Hanson |
NA | NA | |
1945 | TORNADO | Kingsbury | Between Desmet & Lake Preston | ||
1946 | SVS | Sanborn | NA | NA | Updated location and movement |
1955 | FUNNEL CLOUD | NE Davison | Spotter | ||
1955 | SVS | Beadle | 1956 | NA | Warning Expiration |
2001-2035 | TOR | NE Davison N Hanson |
NA | NA | Replaced SVR (NAWAS only) |
2002 | TORNADO | Kingsbury | 5 W Lake Preston | ||
2008 | TORNADO | Hanson | 8 NE Mitchell | ||
2012 | TORNADO | Hanson | W of Farmer. Report from EAX WCM | ||
2012-2045 | TOR | N Hanson | NA | NA | |
2013 | LARGE TORNADO | Hanson | NE of Mitchell | ||
2013 | SVS | NE Davison | NA | NA | Cancelled TOR for NE Davison |
2015 | 1.75 inch hail | Hanson | 7 E Loomis | ||
2016-0300 | SEL9 | Hanson, McCook, Turner |
2039 | NA | Tornado Watch #469 PDS Watch |
2023 | TORNADO | Hanson | 5 NW Fulton. Report from Mitchell PD | ||
2024-2055 | SVR | Miner | 2026 | NA | |
2025 | TORNADO | Hanson | 1 W Spencer. Report from McCook Co. Sheriff | ||
2029 | LARGE TORNADO | Hanson | W of Spencer. Report from Mitchell PD | ||
2032-2105 | TOR | McCook | 2032 | 2034 | Live and recorded simultaneously on NWR |
2034 | SVS | Miner | NA | NA | |
2044 | TORNADO | McCook | 1 Dead, 47 Injured. Extensive damage in Spencer | ||
2045 | TORNADO | Hanson | 5 W Emery | ||
2045-2120 | TOR | Hanson | NA | NA | |
2050 | TORNADO | McCook | 9 N Bridgewater | ||
2052 | SVS | Miner | 2052 | NA | Cancelled Warning |
2054 | SVS | N McCook | 2058 | NA | Tornado report near I-90 & Bridgewater exit |
2055 | TORNADO | Hanson | At Alexandria | ||
2055 | ZFP | Hanson, McCook, Turner |
NA | NA | Updated for Tornado Watch #469 |
2059 | SVS | Hanson | NA | NA | Tornado report & radar indication near Alexandria |
2100 | Wind G60 | W Lyon | From Lyon EM | ||
2104-2140 | TOR | McCook | 2106 | 2107 | Live and recorded simultaneously on NWR |
2109-2140 | SVR | E Lake, Moody |
2110 | 2112 | Live and recorded simultaneously on NWR |
2110 | TORNADO | McCook | At Bridgewater | ||
2111 | SVS | McCook | 2117 | NA | Tornado reported near Bridgewater. Radar indicated near Bridgewater & SW of Montrose |
2115 | Wind Damage | Lyon MN | N Russell | ||
2116-2150 | SVR | Lincoln MN, Lyon MN |
NA | NA | |
2117 | Funnel Cloud | Minnehaha | 2 W Wall Lake. Source Spotter | ||
2120 | TORNADO | Turner | 2 E Monroe | ||
2120-2210 | TOR | Minnehaha | 2122 | 2124 | Live and recorded simultaneously on NWR |
2121 | SVS | Hanson | NA | NA | Warning Expiration |
2125 | NOW | Most of CWA | NA | NA | Severe Weather Potential |
2128-2200 | TOR | N Turner | 2129 | 2131 | Live and recorded simultaneously on NWR |
2131 | SVS | E Lake, Moody |
2134 | NA | Updated location |
2134 | SVS | McCook | 2136 | NA | Updated tornado location (radar) |
2136 | Wind Damage | Lyon MN | 5 N Russell | ||
2138 | SVS | Lincoln Lyon MN |
NA | NA | Updated storm location |
2141 | SVS | Moody | 2143 | NA | Warning expiration |
2144 | SVS | E McCook | 2146 | NA | Warning expiration |
2146 | SVS | Lyon MN | NA | NA | Warning expiration |
2148-2220 | SVR | Lincoln (N&C) | 2149 | 2150 | |
2148 | SVS | N Turner | NA | NA | Updated storm location |
2150 | SVS | Minnehaha | 2154 | NA | Public report of tornado west of Sioux Falls |
2156-2220 | TOR | Lincoln (N&C) | 2157 | 2159 | |
2201-2255 | SVR | Rock MN Lyon IA |
2205 | 2205 | Live and recorded simultaneously on NWR |
2203 | SVS | N Turner | 2206 | NA | Warning Expiration |
2208-2240 | SVR | S Lincoln Sioux IA |
2210 | 2211 | Live an recorded simultaneously on NWR |
2210 | SVS | Minnehaha | 2213 | NA | Warning Expiration |
2218 | SVS | Lincoln (N&C) | 2219 | NA | Warning Expiration |
2228-2300 | SVR | Nobles | 2229 | 2230 | Live and recorded simultaneously on NWR |
2229 | SVS | Rock MN Lincoln |
2231 | NA | Warning Expiration |
2232 | SVS | Sioux IA Lincoln |
2241 | NA | Warning Cancellation |
2240 | ZFP | All covered by Watch #469 | NA | NA | Remove Tornado Watch |
2240 | SVS | Sioux IA | NA | NA | Warning Expiration |
2242 | SVS | Nobles MN | 2245 | NA | Updated location & pathcast |
2300 | SVS | Nobles MN | 2302 | NA | Warning Expiration |
Notes: For Column 3, Counties Affected, only Hanson, McCook and Turner Counties are listed, as applicable, for ZFPs, SPSs, and Watches.
NA = Not Available or Not Applicable.
Return to Table of Contents or to Disaster Survey Page.