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Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is
a scale classifying hurricanes by the intensity of their sustained
winds, developed in 1969 by civil engineer Herbert Saffir and National
Hurricane Center director Bob Simpson. Classifications are used to gauge
the likely damage and flooding a hurricane will cause upon landfall. The
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is used only to describe hurricanes
forming in the Atlantic and northeast Pacific Oceans.
|
Category
1 |
Sustained winds |
74–95 mph |
64–82 kt |
119–153 km/h |
|
Storm surge |
4–5 ft |
1.2–1.5 m |
|
Central pressure |
28.94
inHg |
980 mbar |
|
Potential damage |
No
real
damage to
building
structures. Damage primarily to
unanchored
mobile homes, shrubbery,
and trees.
Also, some
coastal
flooding and minor pier
damage. |
|
Category
2 |
Sustained winds |
96–110 mph |
83–95 kt |
154–177 km/h |
|
Storm surge |
6–8 ft |
1.8–2.4 m |
|
Central Pressure |
28.50–28.91
inHg |
965–979 mbar |
|
Potential damage |
Some roofing
material,
door, and window
damage. Considerable damage to
vegetation, mobile homes, etc. Flooding damages piers and
small craft in unprotected
moorings may break their moorings. |
|
Category
3 |
Sustained winds |
111–130 mph |
96–113 kt |
178–209 km/h |
|
Storm surge |
9–12 ft |
2.7–3.7 m |
|
Central pressure |
27.91–28.47
inHg |
945–964 mbar |
|
Potential damage |
Some structural damage to small
residences and utility buildings, with a minor amount of
curtainwall
failures. Mobile homes are destroyed. Flooding near the coast
destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by floating debris. Terrain
may be flooded well inland. |
|
Category
4 |
Sustained winds |
131–155 mph |
114–135 kt |
210–249 km/h |
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Storm surge |
13–18 ft |
4.0–5.5 m |
|
Central pressure |
27.17–27.88
inHg |
920–944 mbar |
|
Potential damage |
More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof structure
failure on small residences. Major erosion of beach areas. Terrain may
be flooded well inland. |
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Category
5 |
Sustained winds |
≥156 mph |
≥136 kt |
≥250 km/h |
|
Storm surge |
≥19 ft |
≥5.5 m |
|
Central pressure |
<27.17 inHg |
<920 mbar |
|
Potential damage |
Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings.
Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown
over or away. Flooding causes major damage to lower floors of all
structures near the shoreline.
Massive
evacuation of residential areas may be required. |
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