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...SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE INTENSITY SCALE...
A HURRICANE'S STRENGTH IS RANKED ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 5, A SYSTEM
KNOWN AS THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. CATEGORIES ARE DETERMINED BY
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE IN INCHES IN THE CENTER OF THE HURRICANE,
WIND SPEED, STORM SURGE AND DAMAGE. A STORM SURGE IS A DOME OF
WATER THAT CAN BE AS WIDE AS 50 MILES AND AS HIGH AS 25 FEET
THAT IS BUILT UP BY A HURRICANE'S WINDS AND PUSHED ONTO SHORE
JUST BEFORE THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE.
CATEGORY
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PRESSURE
(INCHES)
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WIND
(MPH)
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STORM SURGE
(FEET)
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DAMAGE
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CATEGORY 1
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28.94 AND UP
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74-95
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4-5
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MINIMAL
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CATEGORY 2
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28.50 - 28.93
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96-110
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6-8
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MODERATE
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CATEGORY 3
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27.91 - 28.49
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111-130
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9-12
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EXTENSIVE
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CATEGORY 4
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27.17 - 27.90
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131-155
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13-18
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EXTREME
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CATEGORY 5
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27.17 OR LESS
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155 OR MORE
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18 OR HIGHER
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CATASTROPHIC
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