|
|
 |
 |
|
Categories & Wind Speeds
SAFFIR/SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE
| Category |
Winds (MPH) |
Storm Surge (ft) |
Damage |
| Coast |
Bays |
| 1 |
74-95 |
4-5 |
4-7 |
Minimal |
| 2 |
96-110 |
6-8 |
8-12 |
Moderate |
| 3 |
111-130 |
9-12 |
13-18 |
Extensive |
| 4 |
131-155 |
13-18 |
19-24 |
Extreme |
| 5 |
155+ |
18+ |
24+ |
Catastrophic |
Category 1
Minimal damage to buildings. Damage primarily to un-anchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some coastal road and pier damage.
Category 2
Some roofing material, door, and window damage to buildings. Considerable damage to vegetation, mobile homes, and piers. Some small craft may break anchorage and sink. Some moderate to major beach erosion.
Category 3
Structural damage to homes and buildings, some failure of outside facing walls. Significant damage to roof, windows, and doors. Many trees blown down. Storm surge flooding destroys small structures near the coast, and floating debris damages larger ones. Tied down mobile homes destroyed. Some flying debris.
Category 4
Extensive structural damage. Failure of outside facing walls and some inside walls. Good possibility of complete roof, door, and window failure. Major beach erosion. Trees uprooted and blown away. Major to extensive damage to coastal homes. Significant flying debris.
Category 5
Widespread devastation. Complete roof failure on homes and industrial buildings. Some complete failure of homes and buildings. Small utility buildings blown away and destroyed. Some failure to very strongly built buildings such as schools. Severe damage to all structures located lower than 15 feet above sea level. Tied and anchored boats sunk and destroyed. Massive beach erosion and battering waves. Air completely filled with flying debris.
How a Storm Becomes a Hurricane
Disturbance > Depression > Tropical Storm > Hurricane
Tropical Disturbance
A cluster of thunderstorms that are poorly organized
Tropical Depression
A cluster of thunderstorms that become organized around a central circulation with surface winds of 38 MPH or less
Tropical Storm
A cluster of storms with sustained circular rotation and sustained surface winds of 39-73 MPH. At this point, the storm is named.
Hurricane
A large tropical storm with winds of 74 MPH or greater, rotating counterclockwise. In addition to intense winds, hurricanes are accompanied by heavy rains, storm surge, coastal flooding, inland flooding and tornadoes.
|
|
|
|
|
