I normally don’t make subjective rankings anymore, but i’m definitely willing to discuss this a little bit.
Some of the list is pretty good, but I definitely wouldn’t say that Rainsville was stronger than Moore, Joplin, and Greensburg IMO and Smithville should be above Hackleburg due to the above average construction found throughout Smithville and the even more insane contextual damage. Moore should NOT be last in my opinion. It produced arguably some of the most extreme ground scouring ever documented and in my opinion should be at least number 5. The Orr Family Farm, ifykyk.
Here’s my subjective ranking.
1: El Reno/Piedmont
2: Smithville
3: Moore
4: Parkersburg
5: Hackleburg/PC
6: Joplin
7: Greensburg
8: Rainsville
9: Enderlin
10: Philadelphia
In response to your comment about the infamous Philadelphia trench, a few years ago, I would’ve agreed with you saying that it’s an absolutely insane damage indicator that points to it being deserving of it’s EF5 rating. But we have had several weaker tornadoes plow through fields and produce trenching.
@buckeye05 has provided wonderful evidence about this. I am not dismissing its EF5 rating. As it was extremely intense still and deserving of it. The trenching is just not as reliable of an indicator. The tree debarking/extreme rootballing and homes swept away provide more of an accurate indicator of its EF5 intensity.
