(CNN) – A preliminary review by the National Weather Service found that the powerful tornado that ravaged Missouri’s capital Wednesday night rated at least an EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, indicating maximum wind speeds of 160 mph. The tornado touched down in Jefferson City, around 11:40 p.m. local time, ripping buildings apart and overturning cars. As residents woke Thursday morning they struggled to comprehend the extent of the tornado’s strength and the damage it left in its wake.
“When it hit … it felt like an earthquake,” resident Cindy Sandoval-Jakobsen said.
Only about 5% of all tornadoes are rated EF-3 or higher, according to CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller. The tornado’s funnel was wider than its height, and sent debris as high as 13,000 feet into the air when it struck, the National Weather Service said. At least 20 people were treated for injuries in Jefferson City, and no deaths were reported there, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said Thursday morning. The city’s police Lt. David Williams said later that no one had been reported missing. READ MORE
