Table of Contents
What are the hurricane categories and the wind speed for each?
| Category | Sustained Winds |
|---|---|
| 1 | 74-95 mph 64-82 kt 119-153 km/h |
| 2 | 96-110 mph 83-95 kt 154-177 km/h |
| 3 (major) | 111-129 mph 96-112 kt 178-208 km/h |
| 4 (major) | 130-156 mph 113-136 kt 209-251 km/h |
What are Category 1 winds?
Category 1: Winds 74 to 95 mph, which will usually produce minor damage, including to trees and power lines. Category 2: Winds 96 to 110 mph, that could result in extensive damage, uprooting trees, breaking windows, and snapping power lines.
What is the highest category a hurricane can be?
Category 5 hurricane
In a Category 5 hurricane, the highest category hurricane, winds are 157 mph or higher.
What is a Category 5?
The highest classification in the scale, Category 5, consists of storms with sustained winds of at least 157 mph. The Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale is based on the highest wind speed averaged over a one-minute interval 10 m above the surface.
What is the lowest hurricane pressure on record?
882 millibars
The three Atlantic Basin hurricanes (all Category 5) with the lowest pressures on record are Wilma (Oct. 19, 2005, with 882 millibars or 26.05 inches of mercury), Gilbert (Sept. 14, 1988, 888 millibars or 26.22 inches) and the Labor Day Hurricane (Sept. 2, 1935, 892 millibars or 26.35 inches).
What kind of wind speed does a hurricane have?
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane’s sustained wind speed.
How is the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale calculated?
Be Prepared! The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based only on a hurricane’s maximum sustained wind speed. This scale does not take into account other potentially deadly hazards such as storm surge, rainfall flooding, and tornadoes. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale estimates potential property damage.
How long does it take for wind speed to decrease after landfall?
Wind speed tends to decrease significantly within 12 hours after landfall (for more detail see Interaction between a Hurricane and Land ). Nonetheless, winds can stay above hurricane strength well inland.
What are the wind speed probabilities for Hurricane Gordon?
Graphics show probabilities of wind speeds of at least 50 kt (58 mph) occurring at any point on the map during the 5-day period beginning 8 AM AST September 16. Note that Hurricane Gordon, located to the north of Hurricane Helene, is generating additional wind speed probabilities on this graphic.