During hurricane season, meteorologists often refer to the intensity of these storms using a category system. This system, known as the Saffir-Simpson scale, classifies hurricanes from Category 1 to Category 5, primarily based on wind speed. But what does each category actually mean?
Mark Elliot, meteorologist from The Weather Channel, explains the key differences between these categories, helping us better understand the danger posed by more intense hurricanes.
• Category 1: Winds in a Category 1 hurricane range from 74 to 95 miles per hour (119 to 153 km/h). While these are the least intense hurricanes on the scale, they can still cause minor damage to structures like roofs or trees and lead to temporary power outages.
• Category 2: In this category, winds reach between 96 and 110 miles per hour (154 to 177 km/h). At this point, more significant destruction is seen, with more serious damage to mobile homes and the possibility of extended blackouts.
• Category 3: A Category 3 hurricane, with winds between 111 and 129 miles per hour (178 to 208 km/h), is considered major. Significant structural damage is more likely, especially to poorly built or weak infrastructures.
• Category 4: Winds in a Category 4 hurricane range from 130 to 156 miles per hour (209 to 251 km/h). This category can cause devastating damage, destroying even solid constructions and causing prolonged power outages.
• Category 5: With winds exceeding 157 miles per hour (252 km/h), Category 5 hurricanes are the most dangerous. Destruction is catastrophic, wiping out buildings, trees, power lines, and leaving affected communities in critical condition for weeks or months.
This breakdown of categories is crucial for people to understand the magnitude of hurricanes and take appropriate measures to protect themselves, depending on the intensity of the approaching storm.
