Hurricane Intensity Scale
Saffir-Simpson damage potential scale for hurricanes
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The Saffir-Simpson hurricane intensity scale is often used to describe the damage potential for hurricanes.
| Hurricane Category | Central Pressure (inches Hg) (Pa) |
Wind Speed (mph) (km/h) |
Storm Surge (feet) (m) |
Damage | |
| 1 | > 28.94 > 7200 |
74-95 119-153 |
4-5 1.2-1.5 |
minimal | usually cause no significant structural damage to
building structures unanchored mobile homes can be toppled trees can be uprooted or snapped poorly attached roof shingles or tiles can blow off |
| 2 | 28.91-28.50 7200-7090 |
96-110 154-177 |
6-8 1.8-2.4 |
moderate | greatly strong can lift a house can inflict damage upon poorly constructed doors and windows vegetation receives considerable damage mobile homes damaged manufactured homes suffers structural damage |
| 3 | 28.47 - 27.91 7090-6945 |
111-130 170-209 |
9-12 2.7-3.7 |
extensive | can cause structural damage to small residences and utility
buildings buildings without solid foundation usually destroyed manufactured homes sustain severe damage flooding terrain near coast destroying structures |
| 4 | 27.88-27.17 7090-6760 |
131-155 210-249 |
13-18 4-5.5 |
extreme | extensive damage on roofing materials and non-loading walls complete structural failure of roofs on small homes major damage to lower floors structures near the coast major erosion of beaches evacuation of low ground up to 6 miles (10 km) from the coast |
| 5 | < 27.15 < 6760 |
> 156 > 250 |
> 18 > 5.5 |
catastrophic | complete roof structure damage on many buildings some complete buildings failures small utility buildings blown over major damage to lower floors near the coast evacuation of low ground up to 10 miles (16 km) from the coast |
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