Which scale is used to measure tornado intensity?

• A. F-scale
• B. Saffir-Simpson Scale
• C. Richter scale
• D. Beaufort scale

Answer: (A)

Tornado intensity is assessed by evaluating the damage the tornado causes, not by direct wind speed measurements. This is done with the Fujita scale, which assigns a rating based on observed destruction to buildings, trees, and other features. The original scale ran from F0 to F5, linking damage patterns to estimated wind speeds, and today the Enhanced Fujita scale refines those damage indicators for a more accurate estimate. This approach is specific to tornadoes and their characteristic damage.

The Saffir-Simpson scale, on the other hand, classifies hurricanes by wind speed and potential damage for tropical cyclones. The Richter scale measures earthquake magnitude, not wind or tornado damage. The Beaufort scale describes general wind conditions and effects at sea and on land, but it isn’t used to rate tornado intensity.