Tetsuya Theodore Fujita

Japanese-American meteorologist who revolutionized tornado analysis with the Fujita scale

Dr. Tetsuya Theodore Fujita (1920–1998), known as "Mr. Tornado," transformed meteorology through his groundbreaking research on severe storms. Born in Japan, he survived the Nagasaki atomic bombing and later moved to the U.S., where he developed the Fujita Scale (F-Scale) in 1971 to categorize tornado intensity. His scale, later enhanced to the Enhanced Fujita Scale, remains the global standard for assessing tornado damage.

Fujita’s most pivotal discovery was the identification of microbursts—sudden, deadly wind shears responsible for multiple airplane crashes. His 1985 research for the FAA led to advanced aviation safety protocols, saving countless lives. Using aerial photography and ground surveys, he meticulously mapped tornado paths, debunking myths about storm behavior. His analysis of the 1974 Super Outbreak, a record 148 tornadoes in 24 hours, redefined forecasting methods.

Despite skepticism from peers, Fujita’s innovative "mesoscale" approach bridged small-scale weather phenomena with broader atmospheric patterns. He authored over 200 papers and mentored future leaders in meteorology. Discover his contributions at the NOAA archive.