Hurricane Intensity Scale

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The Saffir-Simpson hurricane intensity scale is often used to describe the damage potential for hurricanes.

Hurricane Intensity Scale
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