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Hurricanes
Scale from NOAA
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a 1-5 rating based on the hurricane's
present intensity. This is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage
and flooding expected along the coast from a hurricane landfall. Wind speed is the
determining factor in the scale, as storm surge values are highly dependent on the
slope of the continental shelf in the landfall region. Note that all winds are using the
U.S. 1-minute average.
Category One Hurricane:
Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Storm surge generally 4-5 ft above
normal. No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored
mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs.
Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage. Hurricanes Allison of
1995 and Danny of 1997 were Category One hurricanes at peak intensity.
Category Two Hurricane:
Winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Storm surge generally 6-8 feet
above normal. Some roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings.
Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down.
Considerable damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers.
Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of the hurricane
center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings. Hurricane Bonnie of
1998 was a Category Two hurricane when it hit the North Carolina coast, while
Hurricane Georges of 1998 was a Category Two Hurricane when it hit the Florida
Keys and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Category Three Hurricane:
Winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Storm surge generally 9-12 ft
above normal. Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings
with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees with
foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly
constructed signs are destroyed. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water
3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Flooding near the coast
destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by battering from
floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 ft above mean sea level may be
flooded inland 8 miles (13 km) or more. Evacuation of low-lying residences with
several blocks of the shoreline may be required. Hurricanes Roxanne of 1995 and
Fran of 1996 were Category Three hurricanes at landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula
of Mexico and in North Carolina, respectively.
Category Four Hurricane:
Winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Storm surge generally 13-18 ft
above normal. More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof
structure failures on small residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down.
Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows.
Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the
center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore.
Terrain lower than 10 ft above sea level may be flooded requiring massive
evacuation of residential areas as far inland as 6 miles (10 km). Hurricane Luis of
1995 was a Category Four hurricane while moving over the Leeward Islands.
Hurricanes Felix and Opal of 1995 also reached Category Four status at peak
intensity.
Category Five Hurricane:
Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge generally greater
than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial
buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or
away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile
homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes
are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major
damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and
within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low
ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. Hurricane
Mitch of 1998 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity over the western
Caribbean. Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 was a Category Five hurricane at peak
intensity and is one of the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclones of record.
Scale from NOAA
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a 1-5 rating based on the hurricane's
present intensity. This is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage
and flooding expected along the coast from a hurricane landfall. Wind speed is the
determining factor in the scale, as storm surge values are highly dependent on the
slope of the continental shelf in the landfall region. Note that all winds are using the
U.S. 1-minute average.
Category One Hurricane:
Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Storm surge generally 4-5 ft above
normal. No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored
mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs.
Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage. Hurricanes Allison of
1995 and Danny of 1997 were Category One hurricanes at peak intensity.
Category Two Hurricane:
Winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Storm surge generally 6-8 feet
above normal. Some roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings.
Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down.
Considerable damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers.
Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of the hurricane
center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings. Hurricane Bonnie of
1998 was a Category Two hurricane when it hit the North Carolina coast, while
Hurricane Georges of 1998 was a Category Two Hurricane when it hit the Florida
Keys and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Category Three Hurricane:
Winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Storm surge generally 9-12 ft
above normal. Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings
with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees with
foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly
constructed signs are destroyed. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water
3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Flooding near the coast
destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by battering from
floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 ft above mean sea level may be
flooded inland 8 miles (13 km) or more. Evacuation of low-lying residences with
several blocks of the shoreline may be required. Hurricanes Roxanne of 1995 and
Fran of 1996 were Category Three hurricanes at landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula
of Mexico and in North Carolina, respectively.
Category Four Hurricane:
Winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Storm surge generally 13-18 ft
above normal. More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof
structure failures on small residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down.
Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows.
Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the
center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore.
Terrain lower than 10 ft above sea level may be flooded requiring massive
evacuation of residential areas as far inland as 6 miles (10 km). Hurricane Luis of
1995 was a Category Four hurricane while moving over the Leeward Islands.
Hurricanes Felix and Opal of 1995 also reached Category Four status at peak
intensity.
Category Five Hurricane:
Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge generally greater
than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial
buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or
away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile
homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes
are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major
damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and
within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low
ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. Hurricane
Mitch of 1998 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity over the western
Caribbean. Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 was a Category Five hurricane at peak
intensity and is one of the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclones of record.
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