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Hurricane categories
The fgollowing table shows the measurements and impacts of a hurricane based on its category rating. Links are included to Wikipedia documents to help explain some of the information.
The five categories are, in order of increasing intensity:
Category
1 |
Sustained winds |
33–42 m/s |
74–95 m target="_blank"ph |
64–82 kt |
119–153 km/h |
| Storm surge |
4–5 ft |
1.2–1.5 m |
| Central pressure |
28.94 in Hg |
980 mbar |
| Potential damage |
No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Also, some coastal flooding and minor pier damage. |
| Example storms |
Bess (1974) – Jerry (1989) – Ismael (1995) – Danny (1997) – Gaston (2004) |
Category
2 |
Sustained winds |
43–49 m/s |
96–110 mph |
83–95 kt |
154–177 km/h |
| Storm surge |
6–8 ft |
1.8–2.4 m |
| Central Pressure |
28.50–28.91 in Hg |
965–979 mbar |
| Potential damage |
Some roofing material, door, and window damage. Considerable damage to vegetation, mobile homes, etc. Flooding damages piers and small craft in unprotected anchorages may break their moorings. |
| Example storms |
Carol (1954) – Diana (1990) – Erin (1995) – Marty (2003) – Juan (2003) |
Category
3 |
Sustained winds |
50–58 m/s |
111–130 mph |
96–113 kt |
178–209 km/h |
| Storm surge |
9–12 ft |
2.7–3.7 m |
| Central pressure |
27.91–28.47 in Hg |
945–964 mbar |
| Potential damage |
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. |
| Example storms |
Alma (1966) – Alicia (1983) – Roxanne (1995) – Fran (1996) – Isidore (2002) |
Category
4 |
Sustained winds |
59–69 m/s |
131–155 mph |
114–135 kt |
210–249 km/h |
| Storm surge |
13–18 ft |
4.0–5.5 m |
| Central pressure |
27.17–27.88 in Hg |
920–944 mbar |
| Potential damage |
More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof structure failure on small residences. Major erosion of beach areas. Terrain may be flooded well inland. |
| Example storms |
"Galveston" (1900) – Hazel (1954) – Iniki (1992) – Iris (2001) – Charley (2004) |
Category
5 |
Sustained winds |
≥70 m/s |
≥156 mph |
≥136 kt |
≥250 km/h |
| Storm surge |
≥19 ft |
≥5.5 m |
| Central pressure |
<27.17 in Hg |
<920 mbar |
| Potential damage |
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. |
| Example storms |
"Labor Day" (1935) – "Mexico" (1959) – Camille (1969) – Gilbert (1988) – Andrew (1992) |
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