Top 12 Most Powerful Tornadoes in the World: A Force of Nature's Fury

2. The El Reno Tornado of 2013: A Meteorologist's Nightmare

A tornado that would go legendary in meteorological circles tore across the city of El Reno, Oklahoma, on May 31, 2013. With wind speeds of 295 mph and a maximum width of 2.6 miles, this EF5 tornado broke all previous records. The irregular action of this tornado made it very horrible. It veered suddenly and surged quickly, surprising even seasoned storm chasers. Sadly, three professional storm chasers—including eminent tornado researcher Tim Samaras—lost their lives chasing this monster. The El Reno tornado was a sobering reminder of the erratic character of these storms and the hazards associated with close study of them. Its hitherto unheard-of scale and behaviour have spurred fresh studies on tornado dynamics and caused a review of storm chasing policies to give safety top priority.