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The scale separates hurricanes into five different categories based on wind. The U.S. National Hurricane Center classifies hurricanes of Category 3 and above as major hurricanes. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center classifies typhoons of 150 mph (240 km/h) or greater (strong Category 4 and Category 5) as super typhoons.
A Category 4 hurricane has winds of 113 to 136 kn (130 to 157 mph; 209 to 252 km/h), while a Category 5 hurricane has winds of at least 137 kn (158 mph; 254 km/h). [ 1 ] [ 3 ] A post tropical cyclone is a system that has weakened, into a remnant low or has dissipated and formal advisories are usually discontinued at this stage. [ 1 ]
Hurricanes in categories 3, 4 and 5 are considered major hurricanes due to their potential for significant loss of life and damage. Even Category 1 hurricanes can be dangerous and require preparation.
What do the hurricane categories mean? The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane's sustained wind speed. This scale estimates potential property damage.
Once a tropical storm strengthens into a hurricane, it earns a category designation on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale: 1 through 5. ... Here’s what the hurricane categories mean.
A designation used by the National Hurricane Center reserved for hurricanes in the Atlantic or Northeast Pacific basins that achieve Category 3 in the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. These storms have winds of at least 96 knots (178 km/h; 110 mph). [9] [1] Maximum Sustained Surface Wind The standard measure of a tropical cyclone's intensity.
[1] [2] A named storm could also be classified as a Category 3 tropical cyclone if it is estimated, to have 1-minute mean maximum sustained wind speeds of between 96–112 knots (178–207 km/h; 110–129 mph) on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.
Hurricane strength is measured in categories on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. What does it all mean? We break it down from Category 1 to 5.