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

7. The Jarrell Tornado of 1997: Texas' F5 Terror

One of the most powerful storms ever documented tore into the little Texas community of Jarrell on May 27, 1997. Though comparatively minor in scale, this F5 tornado with estimated wind speeds of approximately 260 mph was highly intense. Although the tornado's path was just roughly 7.6 miles long and 3/8 of a mile wide at its strongest, inside this area the damage was total. The tornado was so strong that it left just bare dirt after scouring asphalt from highways and stripping grass from the ground. Tragically, whole families were wiped out and 27 people died. The slow forward speed and unpredictable route of the Jarrell tornado made it especially unique since it let it hover over the same locations for a long period, therefore optimising its destructive power. The Jarrell tornado reminds us strongly that, given their intensity and impact on a populated region, even somewhat little tornadoes may be quite destructive.