The saffirsimpson hurricane scale is a rubric which rates hurricanes between one and five, depending on their intensity. You just need to get started, and then encourage a friend, neighbor or family. Hurricanes are categorized according to the saffirsimpson scale in terms of the speed of the winds and the amount of damage they can cause. Personal hurricane plans will be even more important this year the saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale sshws is a tool that meteorologists use to measure the intensity of hurricanes. Making a hurricane plan helps to mitigate the hazards. Saffir gave the scale to the nhc, and simpson added the effects of storm surge and flooding. Sustained winds of 70 miles per hour 115 km per hour lashed the florida peninsula, and rainfall totals of 5 inches cm were reported in some areas. A category 1 hurricane has slower winds than a category 5 hurricane.
Major hurricane day mhd four 6hour periods during which a hurricane has an intensity of saffirsimpson category 3 or higher. High winds are measured according to the saffirsimpson hurricane scale. A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone, the generic term for a low pressure system that generally forms in the tropics. The national hurricane center chooses only a speed range, not s separate range in each unit. A category 1 hurricane has winds of 74 to 95 mph and causes no substantial damage to buildings though areas on the coast may flood. The scale was developed by engineer herbert saffir and pioneer hurricane expert dr robert simpson in 1971. It should be noted that most of the above guam typhoons experienced winds in excess of saffirsimpson hurricane category 5, in a number of cases substantially exceeding the most severe atlantic hurricanes experienced in the united states. The all hazards guide has been published for more than 20.
Hurricanes are categorized according to wind speeds based on the saffirsimpson hurricane scale, from 1 to 5. One piece of information youll hear about repeatedly while studying hurricanes is the saffirsimpson scale of cyclone intensity. Hurricane centers forecasts as well as local radio and television newscasts whenever a hurricane is in the gulf of mexico. Appendix c saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale c1 appendix d evacuation. Category 3 and higher hurricanes are considered major hurricanes.
The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane s sustained wind speed. Saffirsimpson scale has been listed as one of the natural sciences good articles under the good. The weather channel meteorologist mark elliot prepared a video titled why hurricane categories make a difference and explained what each category means. The recently updated saffirsimpson scale engineering.
The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale is a scale that is used to sort tropical cyclones in the western hemisphere. The saffirsimpson team timothy schott, chris landsea, gene hafele, jeffrey lorens, arthur. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale was developed in 1971 by herbert saffir a civil engineer and robert simpson a meteorologist. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale is a 1 to 5 categorization based on the. Saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale explained video. Pdf a postlandfall hurricane classification system for the united. Distribute copies of the shake, rattle, and roll worksheet. The 5 categories of wind speed indicate expected damage to structures. Saffirsimpson hurricane scale national weather service. The student is provided with a copy of the saffir simpson scale and asked to produce a sketch for the effects of each category. Saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale national hurricane center. Know your communitys local hurricane evacuation plan and identify several. Emergency action plan leader up to date before, during, and after a hurricane. Experimental saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale pdf.
This constitutes a category 3 or higher on the saffirsimpson scale. Hurricanes reaching category 3 and higher are considered major. They used the saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale as their guide. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale sshws is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricanes sustained wind speed. S, and the thirdmost deadly, with 1,245 deaths related to the storm. I know that this made a difference and helped them better understand. Saffirsimpson hurricane scale cat 1 the saffirsimpson hurricane scale is a 15 rating based on the hurricanes present intensity. This is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast from a hurricane landfall. It is only used for storms that are stronger than tropical storms, and become actual hurricanes.
Hurricanes reaching category 3 and higher are considered major hurricanes because of their potential for significant loss of life and damage. I removed the phrase with corresponding changes to the. Hurricane facts, 5 categories, 16 item kit list, and. Visit to find useful information for residents, businesses and visitors of lee county in southwest florida. Sustained winds 3342 ms 7495 mph 6482 kt 119153 kmh storm surge 45 ft 1. Saffirsimpson hurricane scale scale number category sustained winds mph. What to do before a hurricane planning insurance make sure you have adequate coverage for hurricane damage. The scale provides examples of the type of damage and impacts in. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale provides information on wind impacts only and does not provide commentary or information on the other impacts or characteristics associated with tropical cyclones. Saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale extended table pdf. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale sshws, formerly the saffirsimpson hurricane. In hurricane katrina a storm that, on the saffirsimpson scale, exhibits winds in the range of 7495 miles per hour 119154 km per hour.
Lesson 4 hurricane preparedness lesson at a glance. Branching out with tree diagrams printable for either homework or classwork. G3 u6 l1 lesson 1 hurricane awareness noaa office for. It is a fivecategory classification scale for hurricanes distinguished by the intensity. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricanes sustained wind speed. Saffirsimpson hurricane scale meteorology britannica. This is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage. The saffirsimpson hurricane scale, used in the united states, is shown below for comparison. I also created an organizer, the saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale organizer to guide the students through the simulation. The original saffirsimpson hurricane damagepotential scale is a hurricane force scale using the numbers 15 to rate a hurricanes intensity. The saffir simpson hurricane wind scale contains 5 categories of wind speeds. The classifications are used mainly to predict the.
The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale classifies hurricanes into five categories based on. Saffirsimpson scale article about saffirsimpson scale. The scale is based on sustained wind speeds, storm surge, and potential property damage. The scale is assigned five categories with category 1 assigned to a minimal hurricane and category 5 to a worst case scenario.
This is the fourth decade in which the saffirsimpson hurricane scale sshs. About the saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale national hurricane. The recently updated saffirsimpson scale engineering express. The saffirsimpson hurricane scale is a 15 rating based on the hurricanes present intensity. The scale is based on measurements of sustained wind speed. Saffirsimpson hurricane scale is a measurement scale of hurricane wind and. Today, the saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale is a 1 to 5 categorization based on the hurricane s intensity at the indicated time. Videographic explaining the saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale used to rate the strength and destructive power of a hurricane. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale from one to five based on the. Saffirsimpson hurricane scale courtesy of the national weather service national hurricane center the saffirsimpson hurricane scale is a 15 rating based on the hurricanes present intensity. Its been 45 years since the saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale was unveiled, and the names of the monster storms it classifies are still referenced today camille, andrew, hugo, mitch. A 15 rating based on the hurricanes present intensity. Inventory use church mutuals inventory survey to record a complete written inventory of all your contents. When a hurricane strikes, help may not be immediately available from the state or federal government.
Katrina was the costliest natural disaster in the u. The scale is intended to roughly predict the amount of expected damage before a hurricane hits land, allowing officials to prepare accordingly. In 2009, the nhc made moves to eliminate pressure and storm surge ranges from the categories, transforming it into a pure wind scale, called the saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale experimental sshws. This scale is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast from a hurricane landfall. Robert simpson, former director of the national hurricane center, talks about the saffirsimpson scale that categorizes hurricanes. The categories into which the scale separates hurricanes are noted by the strength of their maximum sustained wind speeds. Hurricane center nhc defines the saffirsimpson hurricane scale as a 15 rating based on a hurricanes present intensity see table 3. National weather service hurricane center, the saffirsimpson hurricane scale, 2012. Nasa national aeronautics and space administration. The scale originally developed by wind engineer herb saffir and meteorologist bob simpson has been an excellent tool for alerting the public. Hurricane sandy was low on the saffirsimpson scale, but was the largest hurricane ever to form in the atlantic at 1,800 km, and can be reasonable considered an upper boundary, with typhoon tip at. Saffirsimpson hurricane scale sam houston electric.
Saffirsimpson hurricane scale the five categories are, in order of increasing intensity. Hurricane and tropical storm action plan liberty mutual. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale sshs was developed in 1971 by herbert saffir and robert simpson. The intensity of a hurricane is measured by the saffirsimpson scale. Sustained winds of 7495 mph, 6482 kt, or 119153 kmhr. The scale is assigned to a hurricane based on its peak wind. Animation showing an example of hurricane wind damage as measured using the saffirsimpson scale. To help students understand the data they are going to work with, discuss the saffirsimpson hurricane scale, used to categorize hurricanes according to strength. It is important to note that areas that have not prepared. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale is a 1 to 5 categorization based on the hurricane s intensity at the indicated time.
Wind speed is the determining factor in this scale, as storm. National hurricane operations plan archived july 8, 2011, at the wayback machine. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale is designed to help determine wind hazards of an approaching hurricane easier for emergency officials. Introduction hurricane and tornadoresistant concrete houses. Hurricanes introduction kids find weather fascinating.
1322 424 715 119 516 1060 989 241 85 1010 173 1112 265 165 1500 716 906 1302 292 1009 912 1161 1443 1372 278 767 148 1070 148 633 307 507