April 22, 2011: An EF4 tornado, also known as the "Good Friday" tornado, tracked across St. Louis County in Bridgeton, Hazelwood and parts of Madison County in Illinois.

In reality, less than 1 percent of tornadoes earn “violent” EF4 or EF5 ratings. On average, tornado ratings are found to be 1.2 to 1.5 categories too low.

Five tornadoes rated EF4 have struck the U.S. so far in 2025 after two more were confirmed following the most recent siege of severe weather in mid-May.

Five tornadoes rated EF4 have struck the U.S. so far in 2025 after two more were confirmed following the most recent siege of severe weather in mid-May. Tornadoes in the violent category like ...

A series of outbreaks in March, April and May have produced hundreds of tornadoes, with five of them rating as violent EF4s. Here's how that number stacks up compared to recent years this century.