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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Here is an explanation of the Fujita scale for measuring the strength of tornadoes:
F-0 — Light damage. Wind up to 72 mph. Some damage to chimneys; breaks branches off trees; pushes over shallow-rooted trees; damages signboards.
F-1 — Moderate damage. Wind 73 to 112 mph. The lower limit is the beginning of hurricane wind speed; peels surface off roofs; mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned; moving autos pushed off the roads; attached garages may be destroyed.
F-2 — Considerable damage. Wind 113 to 157 mph. Considerable damage. Roofs torn off frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars pushed over; large trees snapped or uprooted; light object missiles generated.
F-3 — Severe damage. Wind 158 to 206 mph. Roof and some walls torn off well-constructed houses; trains overturned; most trees in forest uprooted.
F-4 — Devastating damage. Wind 207 to 260 mph. Well-constructed houses leveled; structures with weak foundations blown off some distance; cars thrown and large missiles generated.
F-5 — Incredible damage. Wind above 261 mph. Strong frame houses lifted off foundations and carried considerable distances to disintegrate; automobile sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 meters; trees debarked; steel-reinforced concrete structures badly damaged.