CATEGORY 1: It’s the first category that a hurricane can be labeled on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale. The winds for a “CAT 1” ranges from 74-95 mph.

"The Saffir-Simpson scale is a measure of wind speed. But far more people die from hurricane flooding than from strong winds. Hurricane Florence made landfall near Wilmington as a Category 1 storm.

Researchers say five storms since 2013 had wind speeds that could categorize them as a Category 6 hurricane or cyclone — and that climate change will only make such intense storms more frequent.

The scale has been in use for decades and gives an idea about what kind of wind damage a hurricane can produce, but it says nothing about impacts from storm surge, flooding rain and tornadoes.

Due to the number of hurricanes that have undergone rapid intensification, some researchers have discussed adding a Category 6 to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

The Saffir-Simpson scale of a hurricane's intensity is used to estimate potential property damage and coastal flooding caused by storm surge. The scale is determined by wind speed. Storm surge ...

Due to the number of hurricanes that have undergone rapid intensification, some researchers have discussed adding a Category 6 to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Due to the number of hurricanes that have undergone rapid intensification, some researchers have discussed adding a Category 6 to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.