Ozonelayer
Member
Really? I didn't know the home was above EXP standards. Where was this said?
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Severe weather threat 4/23/26 (Central/Southern Plains)
- Thread starter WeathermanLeprechaun
- Start date
SouthFLwx
Member
I personally wouldn't rate that home EF5. It wasn't completely swept away and wind-rowed/granulated like you would normally expect to see in an EF5.
tornado examiner
Member
It won’t be EF5 for that the home needs to be completely swept away. The one truly slabbed home had notable structural flaws and termite rotting of the sill plates. And the other one still had a big pile of debris left on part of the foundation. EF4 180-190mph is where it might max out as.
Ozonelayer
Member
Just because it wasn't swept into oblivion doesn't exactly mean they won't rate it EF-5. From what I recall there have been several EF-5 DIs that werent entirely swept away in the past. If they do though it will not be the full on 220 DoD 10 UB one, probably 201-205 at absolute max would be fine if what he's saying about the construction is verifiable.
Central Ohio Wx
Member
Granulation is not something that is consistent in tornadic intensity; I've seen proper-built homes completely swept and rowed that have had large pieces of debris remaining. More debris-loaded tornadoes tend to granulate objects more, which to me makes sense if you know how sandpapering works.
The lack of windrowing is due to the slow forward speed and doesn't coorelate to an EF rating (ie Jarrell; notice how the debris from homes there were not windrowed but completely gone). Notice how most homes in the subdivisionitself are not rowed; just debris lining the centerline. Near the end it may have picked up speed, as a few homes seem windrowed a very short distance north.
Central Ohio Wx
Member
DOD10 requires >75% (which this debatably is looking at VEXCEL), not 100%. Most EF5-rated structures would be disqualified if you set the boundary at 100%. This home did not have any notable structural flaws and both had proper-code bolt spacing and cut/straight nail construction. I can go more in-depth when I get home. It'll be 205 max if anything, although they'll likely go in the 190-205 range.
Generally the NWS looks for at least two DIs of a certain rating before giving it the rating; see Rolling Fork and that one February Wisconsin EF2 from a year or two ago.
I doubt it would be rated EF5 based on just that one house, unless they could find a non-traditional DI nearby or further down the path, or if they decide to ignore that guideline/standard.
That was an erroneous statement/tweet that was put out, I remember the one you’re referring to.
The Rolling Fork one was weird, I give you that, but the precedent is it still only takes 1 DI.
Central Ohio Wx
Member
That is why I would hope that they factor in the fact the RMW was very small - you aren't going to get two side-by-side EF5 DIs if the tornado can only physically core one of them. The 160 home to its left doesn't appear to be directly in the core despite what the track says; wind dynamics additionally dictate that the rightmost side of a tornado is more intense than the left so even if it was in the core that is probably why it wouldn't be fully swept. The 170 home to its north is ineligible given significant termite damage and there are no homes in the immediate vicinity to its south.
Even then there is no set-in-stone policy regarding the side-by-side DIs; it's just offices being inconsistent in their ratings. The DI wording really makes me think they want to upgrade it; they're just still evaluating everything and probably seeing what is ruled out as an EF5 DI and what isn't.
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Ozonelayer
Member
They could use the RV if they absolutely had to do so, but Rolling Fork was the exception, not the rule.
If they find a way to rate it EF-5 that's fine by me, but 190 would also be good.
If you could find where they clarified the rating for that Wisconsin tornado, I'd appreciate it
I think a second DI increases their confidence in a rating, particularly for an EF5, but considering the contextuals later down the line, that may be enough confidence for them to go ahead anyways with it.
We'll have to see.
TH2002
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Pardon my ignorance, but I'd need to see some sources to confirm Enid is being considered for a windspeed upgrade, let alone to EF5.
I would be highly surprised if that one home on Ridgeway Dr was upgraded from 175MPH all the way up to low-end EF5.
I would be highly surprised if that one home on Ridgeway Dr was upgraded from 175MPH all the way up to low-end EF5.
tornado examiner
Member
And now one of the home di’s has been downgraded from EF4 to EF3 but it really shouldn’t have been rated EF4 in the first place.
Idk if anymore are being considered for an upgrade or downgrade.
Idk if anymore are being considered for an upgrade or downgrade.
TH2002
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tornado examiner
Member
I do hope we get the final survey PNS soon. How the rating will change is anyone’s guess. My guess is that it’ll be within the next few days or some time next week.
jiharris0220
Member
Im looking at the DAT comments and Im literally not seeing anything regarding strong wording with the home in question.
Also, I can’t recall anywhere in history where a single family home not even fully swept away with the fire place still standing being rated ef5.
Sure, the home is built solid, but I don’t see anything higher than the borderline 200mph rating at best.
tornado examiner
Member
Currently no surveyor comment on it, but I have noticed they add a comment to the di’s after they make changes to them. At least in some cases. From the pictures it looked like a really solid build. As best we can see. The southern home, that is, the one with the 175mph wind speeds just to clarify.
Ozonelayer
Member
I mean, high-end EF-3 DI's were upgraded to mid/high end EF-4 with Enderlin (Which as a whole was high end EF-3 to solid EF-5) so it's not like it's unheard of. Agree that it would be suprise.
As I said, if they find a way to rate it EF-5 that's fine by me, but high end EF-4 would easily work as well.
NorthGaWeather
Member
Judging by Rick Smith’s comments on Weather Brains, I doubt this is an EF-5. But others may interpret him differently.
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https://talkweather.com/threads/severe-weather-2024.2193/post-108666
start here and work your way down. It was nonsense spouted by some random twitter user. Then a user on here saw it and came on here and said a NWS office said it when they actually didn’t. It continues into the next page as well.
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