Description of the Joplin tornado and how the power varied through its path.
joplin globe
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The tornado first touched down as an EF-0 at Wildwood Ranch west of Joplin. At that point, it had wind speeds of 65 to 85 mph. Multiple vortexes were rotating around the parent circulation. As it moved east along West 32nd Street, its power grew to an EF-1 with sustained winds of 86 to 110 mph. Its width grew to a quarter of a mile.
From Iron Gates Road east to Schifferdecker Avenue, the tornado ripped the roofs off well-built homes. Some homes were destroyed. Some of the damage was rated as EF-2 to the low end of EF-3. Winds speeds were from 111 to 136 mph.
200 MPH
As the tornado crossed Schifferdecker Avenue south of Sunset Drive, it widened and increased in intensity. The forward speed of the tornado through most of Joplin was less than 10 mph. It was at that point that the tornado reached wind speeds at the low end of EF-5 — about 200 mph. Vehicles were tossed from parking lots. Concrete walls were toppled.
By the time it moved to 26th Street and McClelland Boulevard, the tornado was causing damage at the low end of EF-5. Concrete parking stops, weighing 200 to 300 pounds and rebarred into the asphalt, were lifted and tossed several yards.
The tornado would cause EF-3 to EF-5 damage from there to an area just east of Range Line Road.
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