- Category 4 redirects here. For other meanings of Category 4, see Category 4 (disambiguation).
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the levels of "tropical depression" and "tropical storm" and thereby become hurricanes. The "categories" it divides hurricanes into are distinguished by the intensities of their respective sustained winds. The classifications are intended primarily for use in gauging 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 Ocean and northern Pacific Ocean east of the International Date Line. Other areas label their tropical cyclones as "cyclones" and "typhoons", and use their own classification schemes.
History
It was developed in 1969 by civil engineer Herbert Saffir and Bob Simpson, at that time the director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
The initial scale was developed by Saffir while on commission from the United Nations to study low-cost housing in hurricane-prone areas. While performing the study, Saffir realized there was no simple scale for describing the likely effects of a hurricane. Knowing the utility of the Richter magnitude scale in describing earthquakes, he devised a 1–5 scale based on wind speed that showed expected damage to structures. Saffir gave the scale to the NHC, and Simpson added in the effects of storm surge and flooding. It does not take into account rainfall or location, which means a Category 2 hurricane that hits a major city will likely do far more damage than a Category 5 hurricane that hits a rural area.
Categories
The five categories are, in order of increasing intensity:
| Category 1 |
Sustained winds |
33–42 m/s |
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. |
| Example storms |
Agnes (1972) – Ismael (1995) – Danny (1997) – Gaston (2004) – Stan (2005) |
| Category 2 |
Sustained winds |
43–49 m/s |
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 boats may break their moorings. |
| Example storms |
Carol (1954) – Fifi (1974) – Diana (1990) – Erin (1995) – Juan (2003) |
| Category 3 |
Sustained winds |
50–58 m/s |
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. |
| Example storms |
Alicia (1983) – Roxanne (1995) – Fran (1996) – Isidore (2002) – Jeanne (2004) |
| Category 4 |
Sustained winds |
59–69 m/s |
131–155 mph |
114–135 kt |
210–249 km/h |
| 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. |
| Example storms |
"Galveston" (1900) – Hazel (1954) – Iniki (1992) – Iris (2001) – Charley (2004) |
| Category 5 |
Sustained winds |
≥70 m/s |
≥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. |
| Example storms |
"Labor Day" (1935) – "Mexico" (1959) – Camille (1969) – Gilbert (1988) – Andrew (1992) |
All wind speeds are based on a one-minute average. Central pressure values are approximate. Intensity of example hurricanes is from both the time of landfall and the maximum intensity.
See also
External links
