Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale*

category wind speed storm surge damage

mph km/hr feet metres

1 74-95 119-154 4-5 1.2-1.5 damage primarily to shrubs, trees, and unanchored mobile homes; inundation of low-lying coastal roads

2 96-110 155-178 6-8 1.8-2.4 considerable damage to shrubs, trees, and exposed mobile homes; coastal roads flooded; piers damaged

3 111-130 179-210 9-12 2.7-3.7 large trees uprooted; mobile homes destroyed; structural damage to small buildings; serious flooding at coast

4 131-155 211-250 13-18 3.9-5.5 shrubs, trees, signs blown down; major damage to roofs and windows and to lower floors of structures near shores

5 \\>155 \\>250 \\>18 \\>5.5 small buildings blown down; many structures completely unroofed; evacuations necessary 5-10 miles (8-16 km) from coast

*Used to rank tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean (including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea) and the eastern North Pacific Ocean. Published by permission of Herbert Saffir, consulting engineer, and Robert Simpson, meteorologist.