Enhanced Fujita Scale Reference
Enter an estimated 3-second gust in mph. The result shows which EF wind-speed interval contains that estimate.
Enter an estimated gust to see a reference match.
Educational reference only. Do not assign an official EF rating from a wind estimate or damage photographs. The National Weather Service assigns ratings from damage surveys using damage indicators and degrees of damage; these ranges alone do not determine an official rating.
Source and limitationsA QUICK WALKTHROUGH
How to use this tool
- Enter a finite estimated gust greater than or equal to zero, in mph.
- Select the reference action to match it to the published EF wind-speed intervals.
- Read the result as an educational interval match, not an official tornado rating.
Published EF wind-speed intervals
EF0: 65–85 mph; EF1: 86–110 mph; EF2: 111–135 mph; EF3: 136–165 mph; EF4: 166–200 mph; EF5: greater than 200 mph. EF5 has no upper bound in this reference.
Source and limitations
National Weather Service, Enhanced Fujita Scale: https://www.weather.gov/oun/efscale . EF wind speeds are estimates associated with damage, not a standalone method for officially rating a tornado. The tool does not analyze damage or photographs.
GOOD TO KNOW
Common questions
Is this an official EF rating?
No. It only matches a user-entered estimated gust to a published wind-speed interval. Official ratings are determined by NWS damage surveys.
What happens above 200 mph?
The result remains EF5 with an open-ended interval greater than 200 mph; no maximum is inferred.