Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
[ printable version .pdf ]
Hurricane
Category |
Wind
Speed
[storm surge] |
Damage Effects |
US Landfalling
Hurricanes |
1 |
74-95 mph
(64-82 kts)
[ 4-5 feet ] |
No real damage to buildings. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage. |
Diane (1955)
Allison (1995)
Danny (1997) |
2 |
96-110 mph
(83-95 kts)
[ 6-8 ft ] |
Some roofing material, door and window damage of buildings. Considerable damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed signs and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before the arrival of the hurricane center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings. |
Bonnie (1998)
Georges (1998)
Gustav (2002) |
3 |
110-130 mph
(96-113 kts)
[ 9-12 ft ] |
Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Damage to shrubbery. Foliage on trees blown away, with large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before hurricane center's arrival. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures by battering from floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 feet above mean sea level may be flooded inland 8 miles or more. Evacuation of low-lying residences with several block of the shoreline may be required. |
New England (1938)
Carol (1954)
Betsy (1965)
Frederic (1979)
Alicia (1983)
Bob (1991)
Roxane (1995)
Fran (1996)
Rita (2005)
|
4 |
131-155 mph
(114-135 kts)
[ 13-18 ft ] |
More extensive curtainwall failures, with some complete roof structure failures on small residences. Shrubs, trees and all signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows. Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising waters 3-5 hours before the arrival of the hurricane center. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Terrain lower than 10 feet above sea level may be flooded, requiring massive evacuation of residential areas as far inland as 6 miles. |
Galveston (1900)
Audrey (1957)
Donna (1960)
Carla (1961)
Hugo (1989)
Opal (1995)
Iniki (1992)
Charley (2004)
Katrina (2005)
|
5 |
> 155 mph
(> 139 kts)
[ over 18 ft ]
|
Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes cut of by rising water 3-5 hours before the arrival of the hurricane center. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 feet above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles of shoreline may be required. |
Labor Day (1935)
Camille (1969)
Andrew (1992)
Other Category 5 storms, not Striking USA:
Gilbert (1988)
Mitch (1998) |
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