Reported August 2008

THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE: The F Scale was developed in 1971 by Theodore Fujita to rate tornadoes and estimate their wind speed based on the damage they cause. But the original scale's limitations may have led to inconsistent ratings, including possible over-estimates of wind speeds. The new EF scale incorporates more damage indicators and degrees of damage to provide a more detailed analysis and better correlation between damage and wind speed.

TORNADO SAFETY TIPS:

1. Move to a pre-designated shelter, such as a basement
2. Stay away from windows
3. Get out of automobiles; don't try to outrun a tornado
4. Abandon your mobile home; mobile homes offer little protection from tornadoes
5. An underpass is not safe: debris can fly underneath it and be deadly. Instead, head for a ditch

The American Geophysical Union and the American Meteorological Society contributed to the information contained in the TV portion of this report.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Dr. Gary Jedlovec, Meteorologist
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsvile, AL
(256) 961-7966
gary.jedlovec@nasa.gov

American Geophysical Union
Washington, DC 20009-1277
(800) 966-2481
http://www.agu.org

American Meteorological Society
Boston, MA 02108-3693
(617) 227-2425
http://www.ametsoc.org

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