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F3 tornado in Perry County, Missouri

Tornado April 19, 1996 · Perry County, Missouri

F3
Rating
11.5 mi
Path length
175 yd
Path width
$5.0M
Damage as recorded
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated

The path drawn at its surveyed width of 175 yards (0.10 mi) — zoom in and the swath grows to true scale. Other tornadoes recorded nearby that day are shown faint.

What F3 means. This tornado was rated on Fujita’s original scale, used until 2007. F3 meant severe damage: whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned; the scale paired it with winds of 158–206 mph, figures later judged too high, especially toward the top of the scale, and revised downward in the Enhanced Fujita scale. Ratings then, as now, came from the damage.

The wider storm

The tornado destroyed 13 homes and caused major structural damage to 5 others. 63 other homes received minor or moderate structural damage. A total of 69 outbuildings and 6 businesses were damaged or destroyed. The Salvation Army and Red Cross were called in to provide food and shelter. State highways and county roads were cleared of tornado debris and open for travel within 24 hours. Extensive damage to utility lines resulted in prolonged power outages lasting a day or two. The F3 damage occurred just west of Menfro, shortly before the tornado dissipated.

Began near Perryville (37.7300, -89.8700).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 5543189. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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