The last tornado to have an EF5 damage rating occurred in Moore, Oklahoma, on May 20, 2013. Prior to that devastating twister, the U.S. had a half-dozen EF5-rated tornadoes in spring 2011.

EF5 tornado ratings are rare for two reasons: The first is that tornadoes of that intensity are uncommon events. Most tornadoes have wind speeds well under the 201 mph threshold for EF5, Lyza said.

EF5 tornadoes have wind speeds of 201 miles per hour or higher, making them incredibly destructive. However, only 0.05% of tornadoes are EF5, making them incredibly rare.

Moore, Oklahoma, tornado May 20, 2013. The most recent EF5 tornado in U.S. occurred on May 20, 2013, when a devastating twister barreled through Moore, Oklahoma, killing 24 and injuring hundreds more.

EF5 tornadoes are terrifying perfect storms Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN 3 minute read Updated 9:30 AM EDT, Wed May 22, 2013 Link Copied! Video Ad Feedback. Are tornadoes ...

It may be hard to believe that with an average of 1,200 tornadoes each year in the United States, we haven’t seen an EF5-rated twister in more than 11 years. But that doesn’t mean the number ...

Eight years ago, the Newcastle-Moore, Okla., tornado, rated EF5, mercilessly scoured the earth along a mile-wide swath through the heart of several neighborhoods. In its wake, 24 were dead ...

Eleven years after a tornado devastated Moore, Okla., it remains the most recent tornado to be rated EF5, the strongest possible rating. The 11-year gap is the longest since official U.S. records ...

It may be hard to believe that with an average of 1,200 tornadoes each year in the United States, we haven’t seen an EF5-rated twister in more than 11 years. But that doesn’t mean the number ...