No, the maximum rating is EF5. The primary factor in rating a tornado is damage, and since EF5 damage is total destruction there is no room for a higher category. Also, there is no upper bound for EF5 winds; any tornado with estimated winds over 200 mph is an EF5.
An EF5 tornado has winds in excess of 200 mph.
The last F5 or EF5 tornado in Iowa was on May 25, 2008 when a large tornado caused EF5 damage in the towns of Parkersburg and New Hartford, Iowa.
No. First of all, the ratings of tornadoes are based on damage, not size. EF1 is the second weakest category of tornado (there is also an EF0). These tornadoes generally do moderate damage. EF5 is the strongest category. Such tornadoes cause catastrophic damage. Although not always, an EF5 tornado is typically much larger than an EF1.
Meteorologists and engineers examine the damage done by a tornado a rate if from EF0 to EF5 based on how severe the damage is. EF0 and EF1 (light to moderate damage) tornadoes are considered weak. EF2 and EF3 tornadoes are classified as strong. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are classified as violent.
The Enhanced Fujita scale (EF0 to EF5) is used to rate tornadoes based on the severity of the damage they cause.
The highest tornado category on the Enhanced Fujita Scale is EF5, which indicates tornadoes with estimated wind speeds of over 200 mph and causing extreme damage.
Damage from a tornado is typically measured using the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which ranges from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). This scale assesses tornado damage based on the estimated wind speeds and resultant destruction.
A rating of EF5 is reserved for the tornadoes that cause the greatest degree of damage.
An EF5 tornado can take down well-built houses and even sweep away some structures completely. The exact number of houses that can be destroyed by an EF5 tornado can vary depending on factors such as construction quality, size, and density of the affected area.
The worst degree of damage that a tornado can cause is EF5 damage. In such cases well-built houses are wipec clean off their foundations and blown away. Even larger structures such as churches and small apartment buildings may be swept away. Steel reinforced structures may be completely destroyed. Fortunately, such damage only occurs along a realtively small portion of a tornado's track, which the exception of one tornado which carved an EF5 damage swath half a mile wide.
There is no set upper limit for an EF5 tornado. Any tornado with estimated winds in excess of 200 mph is considered an EF5.