The World of Hurricanes
Hurricane Scale
The Saffir-Simpson Scale is a scale from 1 to 5, one being the least intense and five being the most intense, based on a hurricane's intensity. It can also be used as an estimate of the potential damage and flooding expected along the coast. Wind speed and storm surges are other important factors of this scale. Below are the different hurricanes and statistics about each one.
Wind
Water
Category
Speed
Damage
Storm Surge
Effects
Tropical Depression
<39 mph
-
-
-
Tropical Storm
39- 73 mph
-
-
-
One
74-95 mph
No building damage, damage to trees, shrubs,unanchored mobile homes, and plants
4-5 feet above normal
Minor pier damage, low-lying coastal roads flooded
Two
96-110 mph
Damage to doors,windows, roofs, shrubs, trees, piers, mobile homes, and signs
6-8 feet above normal
Coastal roads flooded, marinas flooded, evacuation of some residents
Three
111-130 mph
Damage to structural buildings that are small, shrubs, large trees are blown down, mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed
9-12 feet above normal
Flooding near coast destroys small structures, evacuation several blocks inland, terrain lower than 5 ft. flooded
Four
131-155 mph
Roof failures on small residences, shrubs, trees, signs are blown down, complete destruction of mobile homes, extensive damage to doors and windows
13 - 18 feet above normal
Coastal areas flooded, damage to lower floors near coast, terrain lower than 10 ft may be flooded and require massive evacuation
Five >155 mph Complete roof failure, some complete house collapses, shrubs, tress, and signs are blown down, complete destruction of mobile homes, severe window damage
>18 feet above normal
Coastal areas totally flooded, damage to lower floors and massive evacuation within 5-10 miles off the coast
Category
Description
Examples
1
Minimal
Florence-1988

Charley-1988

Irene-1999

2
Moderate
Kate-1985

Bob-1991

Georges-1998

3
Extensive
Alicia-1983

Keith-2000

Betsy-1965

4
Extreme
Andrew-1992

Hugo-1989

Donna-1960

5
Catastrophic
Camille-1969

Labor Day-1935

Gilbert-1988

Last Revised: 10/15/03 12:49 PM
Created by Will and Greg
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