List of F5, EF5, and IF5 tornadoes

This is a list of tornadoes from Shark's Hypothetical World that have been officially or unofficially labeled as F5, EF5, IF5, T10-T11, the highest possible ratings on the various tornado intensity scales. These scales – the Fujita scale, the Enhanced Fujita scale, the International Fujita scale, and the TORRO tornado intensity scale – attempt to estimate the intensity of a tornado by classifying the damage caused to natural features and man-made structures in the tornado's path.

The most recent EF5 tornado was the 2035 Lake Crystal tornado, occurring just a year following the 2034 Falls City tornado.

Background

Tornado intensity is commonly assessed using damage-based rating systems that estimate the strength of a tornado from the damage it produces. The Fujita scale, developed by meteorologist Ted Fujita, classified tornadoes from F0 to F5, with F5 representing the highest level of damage. In the United States, the Fujita scale was replaced in 2007 by the Enhanced Fujita scale, which uses a larger collection of damage indicators and degrees of damage to estimate tornado intensity. Under this system, EF5 is the highest rating and is assigned to tornadoes estimated to have produced winds exceeding 200 mph.

Other rating systems are used outside the United States. The International Fujita scale similarly classifies the most extreme tornado damage as IF5, while the TORRO tornado intensity scale uses ratings extending through T11. Although the methods and wind estimates differ between the scales, F5, EF5, IF5, and the upper levels of the TORRO scale represent the most extreme category of tornado intensity.

Because these ratings are primarily based on observed damage rather than the maximum wind speed of a tornado itself, an exceptionally violent tornado is not guaranteed to receive the highest rating. Tornadoes passing through sparsely populated or rural areas may fail to encounter structures capable of demonstrating F5 or EF5 intensity, while the distinction between upper-end F4/EF4 and F5/EF5 damage can sometimes be difficult to establish. As a result, some tornadoes capable of producing the highest level of damage may receive lower official ratings.

This list documents tornadoes within Shark's Hypothetical World that were officially rated, retrospectively classified, or otherwise recognized as having reached F5, EF5, IF5, T10–T11, or equivalent intensity.

List of events

The following sections list tornadoes from Shark's Hypothetical World that have either been officially assigned the highest rating on a recognized tornado intensity scale or have otherwise been associated with possible F5, EF5, or IF5 intensity. Events are separated according to their official classification and the nature of the evidence supporting their inclusion.

Only tornadoes occurring within Shark's Hypothetical World are included on this page. Ratings are based on the official classification assigned to each event, while tornadoes that were not officially rated F5, EF5, or IF5 may be listed separately when damage surveys, engineering analysis, or other evidence indicated the possibility of such intensity.

Official F5/EF5/IF5 tornadoes

This section lists every tornado in Shark's Hypothetical World that has been officially rated F5, EF5, IF5, or an equivalent highest-intensity rating. Tornadoes are organized by the rating scale under which they were classified and are listed chronologically by date of occurrence.

Each entry includes the tornado's date, location, fatalities, and a brief summary of the event. Where available, separate articles provide more detailed information on the tornado's meteorological history, damage, and aftermath.

F5 tornadoes

The following tornadoes were officially rated F5 under the original Fujita scale.

Tornadoes officially rated F5
Official Rating	Day	Year	Country	Subdivision	Location	Fatalities	Rated By
F5	June 3	1995	United States	Wisconsin	Barron	27	Sharkius
1995 Barron tornado – This long-lived and violent F5 tornado would rapidly intensify and widen as it approached the city. A photo was taken of the tornado as it was around 0.7 mi (1 km) wide over the city. Numerous well-built homes were leveled down to their foundations with anchor bolts present, and ground scouring was observed as the tornado left a slice like a dagger right through the center of the city. Some businesses were also completely swept from their foundations.

EF5 tornadoes

The following tornadoes were officially rated EF5 under the Enhanced Fujita scale.

Tornadoes officially rated EF5
Official Rating	Day	Year	Country	Subdivision	Location	Fatalities	Rated By
EF5	November 13	2034	United States	Nebraska	Falls City	12	Hurr.Alex
2034 Falls City tornado – The tornado rapidly intensified while entering Falls City, producing its most extreme damage along W 19th and Schoenheit Streets. Several residences were completely removed from their foundations, with exceptional destruction occurring to homes exhibiting above-average construction characteristics. Extensive contextual damage and unusually intense wind effects were also documented throughout the area. The tornado was initially rated high-end EF4 with estimated winds of 190 mph (310 km/h), but the severity of the residential damage prompted an extended engineering review. Structural analysis of the most heavily damaged residences ultimately determined that the destruction supported winds of >200 mph (320 km/h), resulting in the tornado being upgraded to EF5.
EF5	May 23	2035	United States	Minnesota	Lake Crystal	18	Sharkius
2035 Lake Crystal tornado – Numerous well-built and well-anchored homes were completely swept from their foundations in western Lake Crystal, including several residences in the Sunset Lane subdivision. Some homes were swept cleanly away despite being secured with anchor bolts, while portions of basement and foundation walls were cracked or displaced. Little structural debris remained immediately around several foundations, with debris extensively wind-rowed and scattered across surrounding areas. Trees were completely debarked and denuded, vehicles were thrown and severely mangled, and severe ground scouring was documented throughout the core of the damage path. The tornado was officially rated EF5 with winds estimated at >200 mph (320 km/h). Subsequent analysis by the National Severe Storms Laboratory determined that the tornado likely reached its actual maximum intensity immediately south of Lake Crystal, where extreme agricultural scouring included an approximately 336-foot-long (102 m) excavation reaching 1–2 feet (0.3–0.6 m) deep in places. The NSSL estimated that winds in this area likely exceeded 225 mph (360 km/h), although this estimate remained unofficial.

IF5 tornadoes

The following tornadoes were officially rated IF5 under the International Fujita scale.

Possible F5/EF5/IF5 tornadoes

Previously rated F5/EF5/IF5 or rated F5/EF5/IF5 by others

Possible F5/EF5/IF5 damage

Possible F5/EF5/IF5 intensity

Tornadoes officially rated below F5/EF5/IF5 or equivalent but which may have been F5/EF5/IF5 intensity
Official Rating	Day	Year	Country	Subdivision	Location	Fatalities	Rated By
EF4	March 18	2035	United States	Alabama	Arley	11	Sharkius
2035 Arley tornado – The tornado reached its greatest documented intensity in Arley, where the connected Dollar General and Great Value Supermarket building was almost completely destroyed. Most exterior walls collapsed and the roof was removed, while vehicles were severely mangled, trees were extensively debarked, pronounced ground scouring occurred, and debris was wind-rowed nearby. The commercial building received a high-end EF4 rating with estimated winds of 190 mph (310 km/h), the highest damage-supported estimate along the path. Survey teams considered possible EF5 intensity due to the extreme contextual damage and evidence that the strongest portion of the circulation may have passed through nearby rural and forested terrain with few suitable damage indicators. However, the damage to the store was not sufficient to conclusively support EF5, and the tornado remained officially rated EF4.