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The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
1 74- 95
2 96-110
3 111-130 mph
4 131-155
5 greater than 155 mph
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a
1-5 rating based on the hurricane's present intensity.
- 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.
Hurricane Lili of
2002 made landfall on the Louisiana coast as a Category One hurricane.
Hurricane Gaston of
2004 was a Category One hurricane that made landfall along the central
South Carolina coast.
- 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 Frances
of 2004 made landfall over the southern end of Hutchinson Island, Florida
as a Category Two hurricane.
Hurricane Isabel of
2003 made landfall near Drum Inlet on the Outer Banks of North Carolina as
a Category 2 hurricane.
- 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 Jeanne
and Ivan of 2004 were
Category Three hurricanes when they made landfall in Florida and in
Alabama, 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 Charley
of 2004 was a Category Four hurricane made landfall in Charlotte County,
Florida with winds of 150 mph.
Hurricane Dennis of
2005 struck the island of Cuba as a Category Four hurricane.
- 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. Only 3 Category Five Hurricanes have
made landfall in the United States since records began: The Labor Day
Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane Camille (1969), and
Hurricane Andrew in
August, 1992. The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane struck the Florida Keys with a
minimum pressure of 892 mb--the lowest pressure ever observed in the
United States. Hurricane Camille struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast causing
a 25-foot storm surge, which inundated Pass Christian.
Hurricane Andrew of
1992 made landfall over southern Miami-Dade County, Florida causing 26.5
billion dollars in losses--the costliest hurricane on record. In addition,
Hurricane Gilbert
of 1988 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity and is the
strongest Atlantic tropical cyclone on record with a minimum pressure of
888 mb.
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Arlene