User talk:Shift674/Examples of Hurricanes:Saffir-Simpson Scale

Category 1

Category 1
Sustained winds	Most recent landfall
33–42 m/s 64–82 kn 119–153 km/h 74–95 mph	Hurricane Nana in 2020 approaching Belize.

Dangerous winds will produce some damage

Hurricanes that peaked at Category 1 intensity and made landfall at that intensity include: Agnes (1972), Juan (1985), Ismael (1995), Danny (1997), Claudette (2003), Gaston (2004), Stan (2005), Humberto (2007), Isaac (2012), Manuel (2013), Earl (2016), Hermine (2016), Nate (2017), Barry (2019), Lorena (2019), Hanna (2020), Isaias (2020), and Nana (2020).

Category 2

Category 2
Sustained winds	Most recent landfall
43–49 m/s 83–95 kn 154–177 km/h 96–110 mph	Zeta in 2020 approaching Louisiana.

See also: List of Category 2 Atlantic hurricanes and List of Category 2 Pacific hurricanes

Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage

Storms of Category 2 intensity often damage roofing material (sometimes exposing the roof) and inflict damage upon poorly constructed doors and windows. Poorly constructed signs and piers can receive considerable damage and many trees are uprooted or snapped. Mobile homes, whether anchored or not, are typically damaged and sometimes destroyed, and many manufactured homes also suffer structural damage. Small craft in unprotected anchorages may break their moorings. Extensive to near-total power outages and scattered loss of potable water are likely, possibly lasting many days.^[1]

Hurricanes that peaked at Category 2 intensity and made landfall at that intensity include: Able (1952), Alice (1954), Ella (1958), Fifi (1974), Diana (1990), Gert (1993), Rosa (1994), Erin (1995), Alma (1996), Juan (2003), Alex (2010), Richard (2010), Tomas (2010), Carlotta (2012), Ernesto (2012), Arthur (2014), Sally (2020), and Zeta (2020).

Category 3

Category 3
Sustained winds	Most recent landfall
50–58 m/s 96–112 kn 178–208 km/h 111–129 mph	Otto in 2016 at its Nicaragua landfall.

See also: List of Category 3 Atlantic hurricanes and List of Category 3 Pacific hurricanes

Devastating damage will occur

Tropical cyclones of Category 3 and higher are described as major hurricanes in the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific basins. These storms can cause some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings, particularly those of wood frame or manufactured materials with minor curtain wall failures. Buildings that lack a solid foundation, such as mobile homes, are usually destroyed, and gable-end roofs are peeled off. Manufactured homes usually sustain severe and irreparable damage. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures, while larger structures are struck by floating debris. A large number of trees are uprooted or snapped, isolating many areas. Additionally, terrain may be flooded well inland. Near-total to total power loss is likely for up to several weeks and water will likely also be lost or contaminated.^[1]

Hurricanes that peaked at Category 3 intensity and made landfall at that intensity include: Easy (1950), Carol (1954), Hilda (1955), Audrey (1957), Celia (1970), Ella (1970), Caroline (1975), Eloise (1975), Olivia (1975), Alicia (1983), Elena (1985), Roxanne (1995), Fran (1996), Isidore (2002), Jeanne (2004), Lane (2006), Karl (2010), and Otto (2016).

Category 4

Category 4
Sustained winds	Most recent landfall
58–70 m/s 113–136 kn 209–251 km/h 130–156 mph	Eta in 2020 nearing landfall in Nicaragua.

See also: List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes and List of Category 4 Pacific hurricanes

Catastrophic damage will occur

Category 4 hurricanes tend to produce more extensive curtainwall failures, with some complete structural failure on small residences. Heavy, irreparable damage and near-complete destruction of gas station canopies and other wide span overhang type structures are common. Mobile and manufactured homes are often flattened. Most trees, except for the hardiest, are uprooted or snapped, isolating many areas. These storms cause extensive beach erosion, while terrain may be flooded far inland. Total and long-lived electrical and water losses are to be expected, possibly for many weeks.^[1]

The 1900 Galveston hurricane, the deadliest natural disaster to hit the United States, peaked at an intensity that corresponds to a modern-day Category 4 storm. Other examples of storms that peaked at Category 4 intensity and made landfall at that intensity include: Donna (1960), Flora (1963), Cleo (1964), Betsy (1965), Carmen (1974), Frederic (1979), Joan (1988), Iniki (1992), Luis (1995), Iris (2001), Charley (2004), Dennis (2005), Gustav (2008), Ike (2008), Joaquin (2015), Harvey (2017), Laura (2020), and Eta (2020).

Category 5

Category 5
Sustained winds	Most recent landfall
≥ 70 m/s ≥ 137 kn ≥ 252 km/h ≥ 157 mph	Dorian in 2019 nearing its Bahamas landfall.

See also: List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes and List of Category 5 Pacific hurricanes

Catastrophic damage will occur

Category 5 is the highest category of the Saffir–Simpson scale. These storms cause complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings, and some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. Collapse of many wide-span roofs and walls, especially those with no interior supports, is common. Very heavy and irreparable damage to many wood-frame structures and total destruction to mobile/manufactured homes is prevalent. Only a few types of structures are capable of surviving intact, and only if located at least 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km) inland. They include office, condominium and apartment buildings and hotels that are of solid concrete or steel frame construction, multi-story concrete parking garages, and residences that are made of either reinforced brick or concrete/cement block and have hipped roofs with slopes of no less than 35 degrees from horizontal and no overhangs of any kind, and if the windows are either made of hurricane-resistant safety glass or covered with shutters. Unless most of these requirements are met, the catastrophic destruction of a structure may occur.^[1]

The storm's flooding causes major damage to the lower floors of all structures near the shoreline, and many coastal structures can be completely flattened or washed away by the storm surge. Virtually all trees are uprooted or snapped and some may be debarked, isolating most affected communities. Massive evacuation of residential areas may be required if the hurricane threatens populated areas. Total and extremely long-lived power outages and water losses are to be expected, possibly for up to several months.^[1]

Historical examples of storms that made landfall at Category 5 status include: "Cuba" (1924), "Okeechobee" (1928), "Bahamas" (1932), "Cuba–Brownsville" (1933), "Labor Day" (1935), Janet (1955), Camille (1969), Edith (1971), Anita (1977), David (1979), Gilbert (1988), Andrew (1992), Dean (2007), Felix (2007), Irma (2017),^[2] Maria (2017),^[3] Michael (2018),^[4] and Dorian (2019). No Category 5 hurricane is known to have made landfall at that strength in the eastern Pacific basin.^[source?]

2. "Famous Hurricanes of the 20th and 21st Century in the United States" (PDF). www.weather.gov/crh/.
3. Blake, Eric (September 20, 2017). Hurricane Maria Tropical Cyclone Update (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
4. John L. Beven II; Robbie Berg; Andrew Hagen (April 19, 2019). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Michael (PDF) (Technical report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 19, 2019.