Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
All Hurricanes are dangerous, but some are more so than others. The way storm
surge, wind and other factors combine determines the hurricanes destructive power.
To make comparisons easier and to make the predicted hazards of approaching
hurricanes clearer to emergency managers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's hurricane forecasters use a disaster-potential scale which assigns
storms to five categories. This can be used to give an estimate of the potential
property damage and flooding expected along the coast with a hurricane.
The scale was formulated in 1969 by Herbert Saffir, a consulting engineer, and Dr. Bob Simpson, former director of the National Hurricane Center. The World Meteorological Organization was preparing a report on structural damage to dwellings due to windstorms, and Dr. Simpson added information about storm surge heights that accompany hurricanes in each category.
| Category | Winds (MPH) | Effects |
|---|---|---|
| One | 74 - 95 | No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage. |
| Two | 96 - 110 | Some roofing material, door, and window damage to buildings. Considerable damage to vegetation, mobile homes, and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings. |
| Three | 111 - 130 | Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtain wall failures. Mobile homes are destroyed. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 feet above sea level (ASL) may be flooded inland 8 miles or more. |
| Four | 131 - 155 | More extensive curtain wall failures with some complete roof structure failure on small residences. Major erosion of beach. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Terrain continuously lower than 10 feet ASL may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas inland as far as 6 miles. |
| Five | > 155 | Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 feet ASL and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5 to 10 miles of the shoreline may be required. |
| Examples | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Sustained Winds (MPH) | Description | Examples |
| 1 | 74 - 95 | Minimal | Florence (1988) LA | Charley (1988) NC |
| 2 | 96 - 110 | Moderate | Kate 1985 FL | Bob 1991 NY |
| 3 | 111 - 130 | Extensive | Alicia 1983 TX |
| 4 | 131 - 155 | Extreme | Andrew 1992 FL | Hugo 1989 NC |
| 5 | > 155 | Catastrophic | Camille 1969 MS | Labor Day Hurricane 1935 FL Keys |
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