Hurricane categories explained
Hurricanes are rated on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, from Category 1 to Category 5. The category is based only on the storm's maximum sustained wind, measured over one minute.
| Rating | Sustained wind | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 38 mph or less | Heavy rain and gusty wind. Can still flood. |
| Tropical storm | 39 to 73 mph | Gets a name. Downed limbs, power outages, flooding rain and surge. |
| Category 1 | 74 to 95 mph | Some roof, shingle and gutter damage. Large branches snap. Power out for days. |
| Category 2 | 96 to 110 mph | Major roof and siding damage. Many trees down. Near-total power loss for days to weeks. |
| Category 3 (major) | 111 to 129 mph | Devastating damage. Homes may lose roofs. Electricity and water out for days to weeks. |
| Category 4 (major) | 130 to 156 mph | Catastrophic damage. Most trees and power poles down. Areas uninhabitable for weeks or months. |
| Category 5 (major) | 157 mph or higher | Catastrophic. A high share of homes destroyed. Areas uninhabitable for weeks or months. |
Category 3 and above are called major hurricanes.
The category doesn't tell you everything
- Storm surge is not part of the scale, and it causes most hurricane deaths. A large, slow Category 1 or 2 can push in more water than a small Category 4.
- Rain flooding depends on how fast the storm moves, not its category. Slow storms can dump feet of rain far inland.
- Size matters. A wide storm spreads damaging wind and surge across many more towns.
- Tornadoes are common in the bands on the right side of a landfalling storm.
Always follow your county's evacuation orders, which are based on surge zones, not just the category. Check your town on the tracker by town.
More hurricane basics
Sponsor
Local storm-prep businessesGeneral information, not an official forecast. Always follow the National Hurricane Center, the National Weather Service and your local emergency management.