By John Q. Hosedrinker 
This comprehensive directory provides a complete listing of US states, territories, and military postal addresses, as well as Canadian provinces and territories. The inclusion of zip codes further streamlines location identification and postal service. This resource is useful for those seeking precise geographical information or for logistical purposes. In summary, the directory serves as a consolidated reference for diverse postal addresses across North America and beyond.
Read the original article here
Weather service confirms a 210 mph tornado in North Dakota was first with EF5 classification in a dozen years. This is a big deal, and it’s got a lot of people talking. For those who aren’t storm chasers, it’s pretty wild to think about a tornado of that magnitude, the first EF5 in twelve years, ripping through North Dakota. Some seasoned chasers even thought we might never see another one, given the seemingly impossible standards.
The tornado, which touched down in Enderlin on June 20th, caused significant damage and tragically claimed three lives. It carved a path just over 12 miles long and, at its widest point, spanned over a mile. The National Weather Service in Grand Forks, after careful analysis, estimated wind speeds exceeding 210 miles per hour, solidifying its EF5 classification. That’s a serious amount of wind – an EF5 means winds exceeding 200 mph.
The footage of this tornado is undeniably intense. A camera person captured it from up close, staring down death. It’s really something to see. And it’s understandable why people are wondering about the future. Does this event change the way future tornadoes will be rated? What does this mean for how we understand these powerful storms? This one was a bit different because of the damage, specifically, a train car thrown almost 500 yards.
This is a case of the Weather Service really having to analyze the specific damage indicators. Tossing a train car over a football field is not your typical damage indicator, so they took their time to analyze what that damage implied. Based on the math, there was just no way to view Enderlin as anything other than an EF5. This specific event sets a new precedent.
It’s been a long time since the last EF5. In fact, it’s the longest period we’ve had without an F5/EF5. This has led some to speculate that the criteria for an EF5 might have become exceptionally stringent over the years. Some people felt like the NWS was looking for any potential reason to avoid assigning that highest rating. There were even tornadoes with isolated instances of EF5 damage, but if that damage was surrounded by lesser damage indicators, the rating wouldn’t be upgraded.
The EF scale is based on the damage inflicted, not necessarily the size of the tornado itself. EF5 tornadoes tend to be big because they’re intense, and big tornadoes are more likely to hit and damage things. While it’s true that not every tornado with wind speeds over 200 mph is automatically an EF5, this one absolutely qualified.
The EF scale uses estimated wind speeds which are calculated from the damage assessments. The levels of the EF scale are indeed wind speeds. They’re just estimated based off of damage done, not in situ measurements. It’s a worthy clarification to note that not all methods of measurements over 200 mph qualify as an EF5, but your post “hmm don’t think that’s true” doesn’t really add to the nuance of the discussion, and incorrectly insinuates the other poster’s comment is false.
This instance is interesting because it took into account unconventional damage indicators. This could potentially influence how the NWS assesses future storms. Will we see more EF5 ratings if they begin to incorporate more unusual damage indicators? Perhaps this is a sign of things to come, a shift toward recognizing the sheer power that these storms can unleash.