With the help of official definitions from the National Hurricane Center, let’s explore each of the five hurricane categories, according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale:
- Category 1 Hurricanes are the lowest intensity storms with winds between 74-95 miles per hour and a storm surge of 4-5 feet. The official damage estimate is “No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage.”
- Category 2 Hurricanes have wind speeds between 96-110 miles per hour and a storm surge of 6-8 feet. The National Hurricane Center describes the expected damage as “Some roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings. Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down. Considerable damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of the hurricane center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings.”
- Category 3 Hurricanes exhibit wind speeds between 111-130 miles per hour and a storm surge of 9-12 feet. The expected damage from a category three storm is “Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by battering from floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 ft above mean sea level may be flooded inland 8 miles (13 km) or more. Evacuation of low-lying residences with several blocks of the shoreline may be required.”
- Category 4 Hurricanes have winds between 131-155 miles per hour and an associated storm surge between 13 and 18 feet. The hurricane center’s damage estimate is that these storms will cause “some complete roof structure failures on small residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows. Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Terrain lower than 10 ft above sea level may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas as far inland as 6 miles (10 km).”
- Category 5 Hurricanes are the top of the scale. They are characterized by winds in excess of 155 miles per hour and a storm surge of over 18 feet. Only three storms in recorded history have made landfall with category five status, including the infamous Hurricane Andrew which devastated southern Miami-Dade county in 1992. The picture here is grim: “Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required.”
