How Does Tornado Damage Countdown: EF0 to EF5 Work?

Tornadoes have different levels of damage, from barely making a dent to completely destroying buildings, like going from a gentle nudge to being thrown across the room.

Imagine you're playing with building blocks, and a tornado is like a kid who knocks them over. The more powerful the tornado, the harder the knock.

EF0 is like a light tap on the block tower, maybe a few blocks fall, but most stay standing. A EF1 might be a little push that tips some blocks over. By the time we get to EF5, it's like the whole tower gets thrown into the air and comes crashing down with everything else.

A real-life example is like your house:

• An EF0 tornado might just bend a tree or break a window, like when you drop a book on the floor.
• An EF5 tornado can tear your roof off, smash walls, and leave your house looking like it was in a fight, like if a bulldozer ran through your room.

Each level is like a step up in how wild the tornado gets, from a gentle breeze to a roaring hurricane of wind.