Saffir-Simpson Scale

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale rates a hurricane from Category 1 to Category 5 by its highest one-minute sustained wind speed. Category 1 starts at 74 miles per hour; Category 3, at 111, is the first called a major hurricane; Category 5 is 157 or more. Each step describes the damage the winds can do, from broken branches and roof shingles to homes destroyed.

The scale measures wind only. It says nothing about storm surge, rainfall or how slowly a storm moves, which cause most hurricane deaths, so a weaker storm can still be the more dangerous one. Read the hazards of hurricanes and learn about surviving a hurricane at any category.