Explaining the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale
AUSTIN (KXAN) — As hurricane season is quickly approaching, let's remind you about the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. This scale is designed to categorize hurricanes based on wind speed and is made up of five categories. A Category 1 storm is assigned to minimal hurricanes, and Category 5 is assigned to a catastrophic storm.
In a Category 1 hurricane, damage is generally minimal. Large tree branches and some trees downed, some siding and shingles may be blown off, with several power outages. Winds are between 74-95 mph.
In a Category 2 hurricane, damage is moderate. There is noticeable roof, window, and siding damage, with numerous downed trees, and near total power loss. Winds are between 96-110 mph.
In a Category 3 hurricane, damage is extensive. Significant coastal flooding is likely, with major damage to property, power outages could last for several weeks. Winds are between 110-130 mph.
In a Category 4 hurricane, damage is extreme. All homes near the coast are flooding with several feet of water, widespread damage to roofs and exterior walls with power outages that could last over a month. Winds are between 131-155 mph.
In a Category 5 hurricane, damage is catastrophic. Most homes near the coast are underwater and areas that are far inland flood. Roofs are blown off, with most homes unsalvageable along the coast. Areas in a direct impact with a Category 5 hurricane are inhabitable for weeks. Winds are 155 mph or greater.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Storms tear through KELOLAND Monday
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Damaging winds, hail, and heavy rain all made an impact across parts of southeastern KELOLAND yesterday. Meteorologist Brian Karstens shows us the reports. June is typically a busy month of severe weather in KELOLAND. And it only took 2 days into the new month to find ourselves dealing with the first taste of what will likely be more storms ahead. Minnesota Ave sees extra 10,000 cars a day Just after 3 pm, storms started to fire south of Sioux Falls. This is what it looked like from my vantage point just north of Canton. With 90-degree heat and a strong cold front approaching from the west, the clash of the air masses resulted in a number of severe thunderstorms. One of the storms near Hospers, Iowa, produced very strong winds, enough to create a trail of debris from a hog barn facility on Highway 60. Other storms produced a swath of hail, damaging winds, and over 2 inches of rain between Vermillion and Elk Point. A 3D scan of the storm using our VIPIR system shows large hail in the purple and black colors suspended in the cloud before falling to the ground between 5 pm and 6 pm. The strong heating of the day helped support those strong updrafts needed to produce the hail. While we may be done with the storms for now, it's June and it won't be long before more severe weather arrives. Fortunately for us, that won't be happening for most of us the rest of this week Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Eastern NC preparing a hurricane season officially underway
CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) — Hurricane season has begun and meteorologists with the National Weather Service are anticipating an active year. Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service Erik Heden stressed how long the season is and how important it is to be prepared early. Heden said the category of a hurricane should also not determine how well you prepare or how seriously you take a storm since it only relates to wind. He said 85 percent of hurricane-related deaths are due to water. 'During Florence, we also learned that we had a whole lot more flooding in areas that we've never had flooding before,' Carteret County Emergency Services Director Stephen Rea said. 'It's the whole county that's vulnerable.' Rea said it's important to have a weeks' worth of supplies in a hurricane preparedness kit including food, water, batteries and a weather radio. It's also important to have a strong evacuation plan. 'A shelter is a safe place, but it should be your last resort. It's not a hotel. It's not going to be a comfortable location,' Heden said. 'Try to go to a hotel either out of state or out of the area or all the people that come and visit you at the beach? Go visit them.' The National Weather Service is hosting a hurricane community forum at the Pine Knoll Shores Town Hall June 17th at 10 a.m. You can register here. Learn more about Carteret County's emergency preparedness here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Sioux Falls ramps up mosquito control
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — You may have noticed as the weather warms up, more mosquitoes are starting to show up, especially with all the rain we've been getting lately. That's why the city of Sioux Falls will soon ramp up its efforts to get the pesky insects under control. Todd Dickens likes to ride the city's bike trails, but what he doesn't like are mosquitoes. Thankfully, he says he hasn't had to worry about them yet. 1 dead in Monday I-90 crash 'Haven't had any problems with them, so I haven't really noticed them too much,' Dickens said. But the city is anticipating that'll change. 'We only need a couple of really warm days with the spring water we've been getting we could see that real big increase in the mosquito population,' Public Health Program Manager Jaimiee Roggenbauer said. Jaimiee Roggenbauer is the Public Health Program Manager. She says the city starts addressing the mosquito problem before it even happens. 'We go into the stagnant water around the city and we do what's called 'dipping' we look for larva before they are an adult mosquito and if we see it or suspect there's going to be larva in there we treat it on the spot and that prevents our adult mosquitoes from ever bothering anybody,' Roggenbauer said. They've also set up several mosquito traps around the city to test for West Nile. 'Those are going to start happening in late June or early July and we'll see them more at dawn and dusk and those are the ones that can give you West Nile if they bite you,' Roggenbauer said. They'll start spraying neighborhoods within the next couple of weeks, because it's only a matter of time. 'Well, with the recent rain, I could see that and as the temperatures get warmer, it's going to cause them to come out more, yeah, I could see that happening,' Dickens said. Roggenbauer says Sioux Falls has one of the highest numbers of West Nile cases per capita in the country. To learn more about the city's efforts for spraying or to get updates on your phone on which zones they'll be spraying in and when, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
