Could a weaker tornado have the potential to kill a lot of people

[STurner]

Over the past several years there has been a major concern of a large violent tornado(EF4 or EF5) impacting a metropolitan area with the potential to kill thousands. My question is would you even need a violent tornado to kill hundreds or thousands. For instance had the Windsor, Colorado EF3 tornado had hit Denver dead on during the middle of rush hour traffic could it have been extremely deadly. I know this is very scary to talk about but that tornado was like a mile to a mile and a half wide. Even the Atlanta EF2 tornado from last year could have killed a lot of people if that basketball game had not went into overtime. It always seemed to concern me that even a weaker tornado could kill hundreds or thousands. Any of these scenarios sound extremely scary but they could happen at anytime.

 

[Jesse Risley]

Yes, especially if a relatively old or weak structure was hit and a subsequent collapse trapped a large number of people. I believe one of the higher death totals from a weak tornado was associated with the collapse of a brick wall in a school building that killed multiple students.

 

[Matthew Harding]

You don't need a major tornado to have significant casualties. If a tornado (EF2 or less) goes over a downtown area, the risk of being killed by shattered glass and other flying debris is very great.

 

[Shane Adams]

It would be as bad damage-wise as when a violent tornado actually did hit a major city (5-3-99 OKC). The only difference is people would be less-prepared in other "market" cities outside of OK/KS/TXpan.

On a side note, these "it could happen tomorrow" or whatever shows are so ridiculous. It's like they forgot about May 3 or something. I just want to scream "It has already happened!!" at the television. Dallas, Chicago, where ever...it would be BAD. Just like when it really happened ten years ago in Oklahoma City.

 

[Jordan Hartley]

To add to Shane Adams 2nd point, what about the tornado back in 98' that formed right on top of downtown Nashville, Tn and grew to over 3/4 mi wide as it marched through E Nashville? Or how about the Haysville/Wichita tornado from May 3, 1999 which was rated an F4?

Tornado size and intensity increases the chances for greater damage due to higher winds speeds but normally its not the wind that kills a person, its the debris. It doesnt have to be something big either. It could be something small traveling at 100mph if hits you right you could die. Weak or strong tornadoes can kill very easily its just that with the stronger tornadoes your chances of walking away are next to nothing if you dont have proper shelter.

 

[Paul Knightley]

Look at the wind storm we had here in the UK in Jan 1990 - winds got to 80-90mph in places, locally 100mph, and 46 people (or so) were killed, mainly through falling masonary and trees. It doesn't take much wind to bring these things down, so an F2 or 3 could easily cause plenty of deaths.

 

[Damon Scott Hynes]

http://cjonline.com/stories/061798/kan_whippoorwill.shtml

I haven't found the F-rating for this, but it couldn't have been that high.

 

[IAN GIAMMANCO]

Just a quick note, you start seeing more substantial flying debris in wind speeds only around 55 mph...and I think everyone understands the dangers of flying debris.

 

[Bob Hartig]

Shifting from the metro scenario, it doesn't take a violent tornado to completely mulch a trailer park. Even a relatively weak tornado could conceivably cause scores of fatalities in such a setting.