Simpson Hurricane Wind ScaleWhat is a major hurricane? A major hurricane is a Category 3, 4, or 5 storm with winds of at least 111 mphHow long is hurricane season? June 1 - Nov. 30When does a tropical ...

The traditional Saffir-Simpson scale categorizes hurricanes on a 1 to 5 rating system based on maximum sustained wind speed, with a Category 5 bearing winds of at least 157 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.

A storm surge is when storm-driven winds push water toward the coastline. As the tide rises, the water overflows onto coastal ...

The National Hurricane Center uses the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale to categorize hurricanes. Hurricanes are assigned Category 1-5 depending on their wind speeds. We break down the ...

Here's how the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale of intensity works. Skip to content. All Sections. Subscribe Now. 82°F. Sunday, June 22nd 2025 Daily e-Edition. Evening e-Edition. Home Page.

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.

How does the Saffir-Simpson scale work? The scale has five categories ranging from Category 1 — with winds from 74 mph to 95 mph to Category 5 — with sustained winds in excess of 155 mph.

Erick peaked as a Category 4 hurricane prior to moving onshore early Thursday morning along the southwestern coast of Mexico, ...

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale was developed in 1971 and unveiled to the public in 1973. Here’s a look at the system that ranks tropical cyclones by their potential destructive power ...