Typhoon Haiyan landfall winds nearly equivalent to EF-4 tornado

[phantom power]

Massive damage in the Philippines

It is still early in the rescue and recovery effort, and the death toll will undoubtedly rise significantly. Rescuers have not yet reached the south shore of Samar Island and the city of Guiuan (population 47,000), where Haiyan initially made landfall with winds estimated at 195 mph. Typhoon and hurricane maximum wind speed estimates are only valid for over water exposure, and winds over land are typically reduced by about 15%, due to friction. This would put Haiyan's winds at 165 mph over land areas on the south shore of Guiuan Island. This is equivalent to a high end EF-3 or low end EF-4 tornado, so the wind damage there must have been catastrophic--perhaps the greatest wind damage any place on Earth has endured from a tropical cyclone in the past century.

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2575

[Bennyboy]

1. Interestingly horrifying.

Not done yet, Yolanda sets it's sights on Vietnam..... http://www.cnn.com/interactive/hurricane.tracker/index.html?hpt=hp_t1 Supposed to regain superstorm status and then slam Vietnam. http://www.cnn.com/interactive/hurricane.tracker/index.html?hpt=hp_t1