CrazyC83 wrote:Early survey: AT LEAST EF-4...based on visual observations only. I am sure a detailed survey will at least consider EF-5.
Easily EF-4. The schools being destroyed falls in upper EF-4 (for expected, though the upper bounds are greater than 200 mph).
Junior/Senior High School:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/efscale/16.htmlElementary School:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/efscale/15.htmlThe hospital in Moore, if it sustained as much damage as the lady was saying, would be an expected wind of 210 mph (EF-5).
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/efscale/20.htmlHouses being swept clean of their foundations is an expected of 200 mph
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/efscale/2.htmlWith the scouring (chopper pilot showed/reported the grass was ripped out of the ground) and all of this damage, I would expect at least winds of 190 to 200 mph, which is the very upper range of EF-4 (and this is conservative). I would not be surprised to see them put the winds at 200 to 210 mph or higher, though.