Representatives from the National Weather Service were at the Collier County Emergency Operation Center yesterday – briefing staff on updated procedures for measuring the intensity of tornadoes.

Hurricanes get most of the attention in the Sunshine State – but Florida is also in the top ten for the number of tornadoes that strike in any given year. National Weather Service Meteorologist Robert Molleda says enhancements to the Fujita scale for measuring tornadoes will benefit forecasters and disaster planners.

“it gives us a record and also it helps us to identify future storms and also helps emergency management officials in promoting or instituting better building codes – and overall serves the community by keeping a record of the storms that hit the area.”

The Enhanced Fujita scale ranks tornadoes in intensity from 0 to 5. Forecasters will begin using it February 1st. Molleda says tornadoes are most likely to strike in Florida during late winter and early spring.

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Forecasters and Disasters planner have an improved tool for measuring the intensity of tornadoes. The National Weather Service starts using the “Enhanced Fujita Scale” February 1st. Forecasters from the National Weather service in Miami were at the Collier County Emergency operation center yesterday to brief staff on the changes. Meteorologist Robert Molleda says Florida is a top tornado spot.

“Florida in most years ranks above the top ten states as far as number of tornadoes are concerned, at least more than people think. The main difference between Florida and other states, especially out on the central plains, is that Florida tornadoes generally tend to be weaker”

Tornadoes raced through central Florida on Christmas Day causing some significant damage. The Fujita Scale measures the intensity of tornadoes on a scale of zero to five. The measurement is determined by analysis of the damage left behind.