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“straight ahead” and describes the winds that can be produced by thunderstorms. Straight-line winds that come from a thunderstorm can be as fast as 100 miles per hour.

    Super cell: King of Thunderstorms
    Common thunderstorms are born and rain themselves out within a very short period of time, say an hour or less. Super cells are the most dangerous because they can develop the strongest tornadoes. They can travel more than 300 miles across the country as well and cause heavy, flooding rain; large, damaging hail; and straight-line (or derecho) winds in excess of 100 mph. Super cells need humid, unstable air, and some lifting force (like the jet stream) to move the air upward. Super cells can last as long as 5 to 8 hours.

    Frank Picini

    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce
    A rotating column of rising air, called a mesocyclone , is the key to the long life of a super cell. It gathers in the warm, humid air near the ground and mixes it with the cool, dry air from above. The mesocyclone supplies the spin that strong tornadoes require.
    Most Damaging Tornadoes (F5 and EF5) in the U.S. since 1950
    This is a list of tornadoes since 1950 which the National Weather Service has rated F5 (before 2007) or EF5 (2007 on—the most intense damage category on the Fujita and Enhanced Fujita damage scales. The tornadoes are numbered in the order they happened since 1950; so the numbers run from the bottom up.
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    Most Damaging Tornadoes in U.S. Since 1950
NUMBER
DATE
LOCATION
58
May 24, 2011
El Reno/Piedmont, OK
57
May 22, 2011
Joplin, MO
56
April 27, 2011
Rainsville/Sylvania, AL
55
April 27, 2011
Preston, MS
54
April 27, 2011
Hackleburg/Phil Campbell, AL
53
April 27, 2011
Smithville, MS
52
May 25, 2008
Parkersburg, IA
51
May 4, 2007
Greensburg, KS
50
May 3, 1999
Bridge Creek/Moore, OK
49
April 16, 1998
Waynesboro, TN
48
April 8, 1998
Oak Grove/Pleasant Grove, AL
47
May 27, 1997
Jarrell, TX
46
July 18, 1996
Oakfield, WI
45
June 16, 1992
Chandler, MN
44
April 26, 1991
Andover, KS
43
August 28, 1990
Plainfield, IL
42
March 13, 1990
Goessel, KS
41
March 13, 1990
Hesston, KS
40
May 31, 1985
Niles, OH
39
June 7, 1984
Barneveld, WI
38
April 2, 1982
Broken Bow, OK
37
April 4, 1977
Birmingham, AL
36
June 13, 1976
Jordan, IA
35
April 19, 1976
Brownwood, TX
34
March 26, 1976
Spiro, OK
33
April 3, 1974
Guin, AL
32
April 3, 1974
Tanner, AL
31
April 3, 1974
Mt. Hope, AL
30
April 3, 1974
Sayler Park, OH
29
April 3, 1974
Brandenburg, KY
28
April 3, 1974
Xenia, OH
27
April 3, 1974
Daisy Hill, IN
26
May 6, 1973
Valley Mills, TX
25
February 21, 1971
Delhi, LA
24
May 11, 1970
Lubbock, TX
23
June 13, 1968
Tracy, MN
22
May 15, 1968
Maynard, IA
21
May 15, 1968
Charles City, IA
20
April 23, 1968
Gallipolis, OH
19
October 14, 1966
Belmond, IA
18
June 8, 1966
Topeka, KS
17
March 3, 1966
Jackson, MS
16
May 8, 1965
Gregory, SD
15
May 5, 1964
Bradshaw, NE
14
April 3, 1964
Wichita Falls, TX
13
May 5, 1960
Prague, OK
12
June 4, 1958
Menomonie, WI
11
December 18, 1957
Murphysboro, IL
10
June 20, 1957
Fargo, ND
9
May 20, 1957
Ruskin Heights, MO
8
April 3, 1956
Grand Rapids, MI
7
May 25, 1955
Udall, KS
6
May 25, 1955
Blackwell, OK
5
December 5, 1953
Vicksburg, MS
4
June 27, 1953
Adair, IA
3
June 8, 1953
Flint, MI
2
May 29, 1953
Ft. Rice, ND
1
May 11, 1953
Waco, TX
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    The 17 Deadliest Days In U.S. Tornado History
    (Since 1950)
    Courtesy Storm Prediction Center; Compiled by Greg Carbin, Roger Edwards, and Joe Schaefer, SPC
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    Please note that data from 2011 is incomplete.
RANK
BEGINNING DATE
DEATHS
1
May 22, 2011
695
2
April 27, 2011
313
3
April 3, 1974
310
4
April 11, 1965
260
5
March 21, 1952
205
6
June 8, 1953
142
7
May 11, 1953
127
8
February 21, 1971
121
9
May 25, 1955
102
10
June 9, 1953
90
11
May 31, 1985
76
12
May 15, 1968
72
13(tie)
March 3, 1966
58
13(tie)
April 21, 1967
58
15(tie)
April 10, 1979
57
15(tie)
March 28, 1984
57
15(tie)
February 5, 2008
57
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    Waterspout: Cousin to the Tornado

    National