Saffir-Simpson Scale

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The Saffir-Simpson scale below is the origin of the “hurricane categories” weather forecasters use to warn of approaching hurricane severity. It combines the destructive force of both wind speed, and storm surge to arrive at an overall damage category. Again, these damage categories can be put into a monetary value by observing the hurricane cost comparison table above. The actual costs will depend on the amount of development that exists along the hurricane path.

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Damage Potential Scale

Saffir -   Central         Maximum        Storm        Damage

Simpson    Pressure[1](mb) Sustained      Surge (ft)   Category

Scale                     Wind Speed (mph)

1          >980            74 to 95       4 to 5       Minimal

2          965 - 979       96 to 110      6 to 8       Moderate

3          945 - 964       111 to 130     9 to 12      Extensive

4          920 - 944       131 to 155     13 to 18     Extreme

5          <920            >155           >18          Catastrophic

Notice that the beginning strength of each category of hurricane increases about 20 mph over the previous category, see the following lower left table:

Cat 2	Cat 1	Difference	Category	Lower Limit	Upper Limit
96	74	22 mph	1	74	95
Cat 3	Cat 2		2	96	110
111	96	15 mph	3	111	130
Cat 4	Cat 3		4	131	155
131	111	20 mph	5	156	180
Cat 5	Cat 4		6	181	208
156	131	25 mph	7	209	240

However, the category 5 is a catch all for all hurricane wind speeds above 156 mph, even up to 225 mph. So we can add categories 6 & 7 to the Saffir-Simpson scale, see table upper right.

[1] Central pressure is the atmospheric pressure measured in the eye of the hurricane by “Hurricane Hunter” WC-130 aircraft.

In addition, wind gusts, can push “sustained wind speeds” 25-30% higher than those listed in the Saffir –Simpson (SS) table. Damage potential of such wind speeds is literally off the charts with respect to the SS scale. The best estimate of these forces requires using the Fujita Tornado Scale destruction table. Wind gusts give rise to the pockets of more severe damage along hurricane paths. Thus homes facing a Category 3 hurricane with wind gusts up to 169 mph may really have to withstand the equivalent of a destructive F2 tornado. That would make Camille an extrapolated category 6 hurricane, with wind gusts of an F5 “incredible tornado”.

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