# Theoretical maximum tornado wind speed

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretical-maximum-tornado-wind-speed/267043>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 1, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretical-maximum-tornado-wind-speed/267043 "2004-10-01T15:57:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Fox\_Paws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/85e7bf/32.png) [@Fox\_Paws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fox_Paws)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretical-maximum-tornado-wind-speed/267043/1 "2004-10-01T15:57:11Z")

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I was reading some material for work that included a brief discussion of the Fujita-Pearson Scale. A little side reading led me to resources that mention (im)possible tornados in the F6 to F12 range (wind speeds of 319mph to MACH 1).

That started me thinking: What is the theoretical maximum wind speed for a tornado? That is, if the “perfect” tornado were formed, how hard would its winds blow? How large or small could it be? What conditions would have to come together to make such a storm?

And if you want to take a guess, what would be left after a (theoretical) F12 tornado came roaring through? Would its winds be enough to do serious damage to the ground itself?

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretical-maximum-tornado-wind-speed/267043/2 "2004-10-01T16:06:24Z")

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[This](http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Fujita_scale) seems to sum it up nicely:

> [@](#):
>
> It is suspected that an F6 or greater tornado would be indistinguishable from F5 because significant damage would be done by the sides before the F6 center met objects, and that only a narrow cone would exceed F5, and likely for a limited time. A tiny proportion of tornados have any part near the top end of the F5 category. In theory, F6 would correspond to 319-379 mi/h (511-610 km/h). It should be noted that all tornados above F3, combined, are 2% of the total.

It’s not going to much exceed this, since atmospheric conditions such as pressure differentials and thermal updrafts which create winds in general and tornadoes in particular are limited.

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**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretical-maximum-tornado-wind-speed/267043/3 "2004-10-01T16:40:40Z")

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> [@Q.E.D.](#):
>
> [This](http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Fujita_scale) seems to sum it up nicely:  
> It’s not going to much exceed this, since atmospheric conditions such as pressure differentials and thermal updrafts which create winds in general and tornadoes in particular are limited.

The highest wind speed recorded on Earth was the May 15, 1999 [tornado](http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/sn_arc99/5_15_99/fob1.htm). Being only [one mph](http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/nebraska/may3outbreak.html) below the F6 limit, I would not be suprised if it could actually have been classified an F6 at some point.