Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale

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The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1-to-5 categorization system that rates hurricanes based on their sustained wind speeds and potential for property damage.


Statements (50)
Predicate Object
instanceOf hurricane intensity scale
meteorological scale
wind speed scale
alsoKnownAs Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale
Saffir–Simpson scale
appliesTo tropical cyclones classified as hurricanes
category1Description very dangerous winds will produce some damage
category1LowerBound_mph 74
category1UpperBound_mph 95
category2Description extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage
category2LowerBound_mph 96
category2UpperBound_mph 110
category3Description devastating damage will occur
category3LowerBound_mph 111
category3UpperBound_mph 129
category4Description catastrophic damage will occur
category4LowerBound_mph 130
category4UpperBound_mph 156
category5Description catastrophic damage will occur
category5LowerBound_mph 157
classificationThreshold_mph 74
classificationThresholdDescription tropical cyclones with sustained winds of at least 74 mph are classified as hurricanes
countryOfUse United States
developedBy Herbert Saffir
Robert Simpson
developerOccupation civil engineer
meteorologist
doesNotDirectlyMeasure flooding
rainfall
storm surge
focusesOn potential property damage
hasCategoryCount 5
highestCategory Category 5
introducedInDecade 1970s
lowestCategory Category 1
maintainedBy National Hurricane Center
measures maximum sustained surface wind speed
namedAfter Herbert Saffir
Robert Simpson
regionStandard North Atlantic basin
eastern North Pacific basin
scaleRangeUnit kilometres per hour
miles per hour
timeAveragingPeriod 1-minute sustained winds
usedBy National Hurricane Center
United States National Weather Service
usedFor classifying hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean
classifying hurricanes in the northeastern Pacific Ocean
usedForWarning hurricane preparedness
risk communication to the public

Referenced by (4)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale ("Saffir–Simpson scale")
Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale ("Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale")
alsoKnownAs
Atlantic hurricanes
classifiedBy
National Hurricane Center
usesSystem

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