
What is the Difference Between a “Tornado Watch” and a “Tornado Warning”?ĭuring a Tornado Watch, Tornadoes are possible. Fortunately, EF5 tornadoes are very rare. The severity of a tornado is measured by the Enhanced Fujita Scale which rates the damage a tornado on six levels, from minor (EF0) to catastrophic (EF5) The smallest tornadoes (EF1) have hurricane-force winds (EF1) while the largest (EF5) have devastating 300mph winds that can sweep homes right off their foundations and fling cars over a football field away.

Tornados are very dangerous! Many people are killed each year as tornadoes demolish buildings and hurl debris through the air at deadly speeds. What is the Risk from Tornadoes in the Northeast? What is the Risk of a Tornado Occurring in the Northeast?Ī 2×4 hurdled through a kitchen refrigerator by a tornado The tornado traveled through 11 towns, killing one person, collapsing over a dozen houses, and damaging 200 more. The most recent tornado to hit New England was the New Hampshire tornado that struck on July 24, 2008. On Jan F2 tornado touched down in Westchester County, NY, proving that devastating tornadoes can form even in the New York City area. The tornado blew down a cafeteria wall, killing 8 students and injuring 18 others. In November of 1989, the East Coldenham Elementary School was hit by an F1 tornado. This twister lasted a little less than a minute, but killed 3 people, injure over 300, destroy 40 homes, and cause $300 million in property damage. Another devastating tornado occurred in Windsor Locks, Connecticut at about 3PM on October 3, 1979.

In one case, the Worcester Tornado carried pieces of mattresses high into the storm, where they were coated in ice before being dropped into Boston Harbor. Damage estimates were in excess of $52 million. Within one minute, more than 90 people were killed and over 1,300 injured. The most devastating tornado ever to occur in the Northeast was the Worcester Tornado of June 9, 1953.
