-
- Tropical Cyclone Products
- Tropical Weather Outlooks
- Marine Products
- Audio/Podcasts
- RSS Feeds
- GIS Products
- Alternate Formats
- Tropical Cyclone Product Descriptions
- Tropical Cyclone Product Examples
- Marine Product Descriptions
-
▾
-
- Satellite Imagery
- Radar Imagery
- Aircraft Reconnaissance
- Tropical Analysis Tools
- Experimental Products
- Lat/Lon Distance Calculator
- Blank Tracking Maps
-
▾
-
Educational Resources
- Be Prepared!
NWS Hurricane
Prep Week - NWS Hurricane Safety
- Outreach Documents
- Storm Surge
- Watch/Warning Breakpoints
- Climatology
- Tropical Cyclone Names
- Wind Scale
- Records and Facts
- Historical Hurricane Summaries
- Forecast Models
- NHC Publications
- NHC Glossary
- Acronyms
- Frequent Questions
- Be Prepared!
-
▾
-
Archives
- Tropical Cyclone Advisories
- Tropical Weather Outlooks
- Tropical Cyclone Reports
- Tropical Cyclone Forecast Verification
- Atlantic Current Season Summary
- E. Pacific Current Season Summary
- C. Pacific Current Season Summary
- NHC News Archive
- Other Archives: HURDAT, Track Maps, Marine Products,and more
-
▾
-
About
- National Hurricane Center
- Central PacificHurricane Center
- Contact Us
-
▾
-
Climatology | Names | Wind Scale | Extremes | Models | Breakpoints
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based only on a hurricane's maximum sustained wind speed. This scale does not take into account other potentially deadly hazards such as storm surge, rainfall flooding, and tornadoes.
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale estimates potential property damage. While all hurricanes produce life-threatening winds, hurricanes rated Category 3 and higher are known as major hurricanes*. Major hurricanes can cause devastating to catastrophic wind damage and significant loss of life simply due to the strength of their winds. Hurricanes of all categories can produce deadly storm surge, rain-induced floods, and tornadoes. These hazards require people to take protective action, including evacuating from areas vulnerable to storm surge.
*In the western North Pacific, the term "super typhoon" is used for tropical cyclones with sustained winds exceeding 150 mph.
Category | Sustained Winds | Types of Damage Due to Hurricane Winds |
---|---|---|
1 | 74-95 mph 64-82 kt 119-153 km/h | Very dangerous winds will produce some damage: Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof, shingles, vinyl siding and gutters. Large branches of trees will snap and shallowly rooted trees may be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles likely will result in power outages that could last a few to several days. |
2 | 96-110 mph 83-95 kt 154-177 km/h | Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage:Well-constructed frame homes could sustain major roof and siding damage. Many shallowly rooted trees will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. Near-total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks. |
3 (major) | 111-129 mph 96-112 kt 178-208 km/h | Devastating damage will occur:Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes. |
4 (major) | 130-156 mph 113-136 kt 209-251 km/h | Catastrophic damage will occur:Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months. |
5 (major) | 157 mph or higher 137 kt or higher 252 km/h or higher | Catastrophic damage will occur:A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months. |
More Information
- About the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (PDF)
- Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale Extended Table (PDF)
- 2012 Revision to the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (PDF)
- (PDF)
If you have trouble viewing linked files, obtain a free viewer for the file format:
- Adobe Acrobat (pdf)
Quick Links and Additional Resources
Tropical Cyclone Forecasts
Tropical Cyclone Advisories
Tropical Weather Outlook
Audio/Podcasts
About Advisories
Marine Forecasts
Offshore Waters Forecasts
Gridded Forecasts
Graphicast
About Marine
Social Media
NHC on Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
NHC Blog: "Inside the Eye"
Hurricane Preparedness
Preparedness Guide
Hurricane Hazards
Watches and Warnings
Marine Safety
Ready.gov Hurricanes | en Español
Weather-Ready Nation
Emergency Management Offices
Research and Development
NOAA Hurricane Research Division
Hurricane and Ocean Testbed (HOT)
Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program
Other Resources
NHC/AOML Library Branch
NOAA: Hurricane FAQs
National Hurricane Operations Plan
WX4NHC Amateur Radio
NWS Forecast Offices
Weather Prediction Center
Storm Prediction Center
Ocean Prediction Center
Local Forecast Offices
Worldwide Tropical Cyclone Centers
Canadian Hurricane Centre
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Other Tropical Cyclone Centers
WMO Severe Weather Info Centre
US Dept of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Hurricane Center
11691 SW 17th Street
Miami, FL, 33165
nhcwebmaster@noaa.gov
Central Pacific Hurricane Center
2525 Correa Rd
Suite 250
Honolulu, HI 96822
W-HFO.webmaster@noaa.gov
Disclaimer
Information Quality
Help
Glossary
Privacy Policy
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
About Us
Career Opportunities