All hurricanes are dangerous, but some are more so than others. The way storm surge, wind, and other factors combine determine the hurricane's destructive power. To make comparisons easier, and to make the predicted hazards of approaching hurricanes clearer to emergency forces, hurricane forecasters use a disaster-potential scale, which assigns storms to five categories. Category I is a minimum hurricane; category 5 is the worst-case scenario. The criteria for each category are shown below. The winds are used in the determination of category.
The Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Scale
|
Category |
Definition-Effects |
|
1 |
Winds : 74-95 mph (64-82 kt) No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Also, some coastal flooding and minor pier damage. |
|
2 |
Winds : 96-110 mph (83-95 kt) Some roofing material, door, and window damage. Considerable damage to vegetation, mobile homes, etc. Flooding damages piers and small craft in unprotected moorings may break their moorings. |
|
3 |
Winds : 111-130 mph (96-113 kt) Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings, with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Mobile homes are destroyed. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by floating debris. Terrain may be flooded well inland. |
|
4 |
Winds : 131-155 mph (114-135 kt) More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof structure failure on small residences. Major erosion of beach areas. Terrain may be flooded well inland. |
|
5 |
Winds : 155+ mph (135+ kt) Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. Flooding causes major damage to lower floors of all structures near the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas may be required. |
Names for Atlantic Tropical Storms
|
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
| Arlene Bret Cindy Dennis Emily Floyd Gert Harvey Irene Jose Katrina Lenny Maria Nate Ophelia Philippe Rita Stan Tammy Vince Wilma |
Alberto Beryl Chris Debby Ernesto Florence Gordon Helene Isaac Joyce Keith Leslie Michael Nadine Oscar Patty Rafael Sandy Tony Valerie William |
Allison Barry Chantal Dean Erin Felix Gabrielle Humberto Iris Jerry Karen Lorenzo Michelle Noel Olga Pablo Rebekah Sebastien Tanya Van Wendy |
Arthur Bertha Cristobal Dolly Edouard Fay Gustav Hanna Isidore Josephine Kyle Lili Marco Nana Omar Paloma Rene Sally Teddy Vicky Wilfred |
Ana Bill Claudette Danny Erika Fabian Grace Henri Isabel Juan Kate Larry Mindy Nicholas Odette Peter Rose Sam Teresa Victor Wanda |
Alex Bonnie Charley Danielle Earl Frances Gaston Hermine Ivan Jeanne Karl Lisa Matthew Nicole Otto Paula Richard Shary Tomas Virginie Walter |
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