Weather With Tom: How is a tornado given a rating?
On this episode of Weather With Tom we look at how a tornado is given a rating. What goes into the decision process? How many factors are there? Turns out it's more complicated than you may realize.
Steve Runnels has been with the National Weather Service in Springfield since 1995. From crippling ice storms to devastating tornadoes, he's seen just about everything the weather has to offer. He's been on multiple storm surveys to examine the aftermath of tornadoes and storms. His most recent storm surveys took him to Webster and Wright Counties where an EF-1 tornado was confirmed and to Ozarks County where an EF-3 tornado was confirmed with fatalities.
Watch the video above to learn more about how the National Weather Service rates a tornado using the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Runnels also discusses how he and his team approach these disaster areas in the wake of a life-changing storm and why delivering a tornado rating is important.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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