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The Saffir-Simpson Scale
August 29, 2025 at 04:37 AM EDT
By WeatherBug Meteorologist, John Benedict
With hurricane season here, let’s review the Saffir-Simpson Scale that is used to classify hurricanes in the Western Hemisphere. The Saffir-Simpson Scale was developed by Herbert Saffir, an engineer, and Robert Simpson, a meteorologist and a former director of the National Hurricane Center. The scale is based on wind speed and the expected damage to structures. The classifications of hurricanes based on wind speed can provide some insight of the potential damage a hurricane can deliver upon landfall.
Here is the latest Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale with a brief description of damage each category hurricane can do to coastal areas closest to landfall.
Category One
Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Most damage is limited to unanchored objects (mobile homes, traffic lights, signs, etc.), trees and bushes. Other damage includes roof shingle and vinyl siding peeling and damage, winds broken by flying degrees.
Category Two
Winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Large trees are blown over. There is significant damage to unanchored buildings, while small boats may break free. Unprotected windows will likely be broken by flying debris. Roof and siding damage will be significant for apartment and industrial buildings and commercial signs and canopies will be damaged.
Category Three
Winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Mobile homes and other unanchored buildings are destroyed. Small structures sustain moderate damage. Large trees and bushes are blown over. Power outages are widespread with week to month-long recovery time.
Category Four
Winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Small structures sustain major damage, while larger structures sustain moderate damage. Mobile homes are completely destroyed. Roofs are blown off homes, while signs, trees and bushes are all blown over. Piers are destroyed. Small boats are moderately damaged. All utility infrastructures, including water, are severely damaged.
Category Five
Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Catastrophic damage will occur. Small structures are blown over, and many roofs are blown off and away. Mobile homes are completely destroyed, most other homes will be nearly or completely destroyed. Commercial buildings will have widespread damage and destruction. All trees, signs, and bushes are blown over and away.
While the Saffir-Simpson Scale is quite useful, it is not perfect. Hurricanes deliver numerous hazards in addition to high winds, including heavy rainfall, storm surge, and tornadoes that the scale does not account for. The potential damage and affects from each storm are also dependent on the shape of the shoreline regarding storm surge. Effects from hurricanes can also be well removed from the center of the storm where winds are strongest.
Source: The National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center, Wikipedia.
Image: View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 54. (Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth)
Here is the latest Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale with a brief description of damage each category hurricane can do to coastal areas closest to landfall.
Category One
Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Most damage is limited to unanchored objects (mobile homes, traffic lights, signs, etc.), trees and bushes. Other damage includes roof shingle and vinyl siding peeling and damage, winds broken by flying degrees.
Category Two
Winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Large trees are blown over. There is significant damage to unanchored buildings, while small boats may break free. Unprotected windows will likely be broken by flying debris. Roof and siding damage will be significant for apartment and industrial buildings and commercial signs and canopies will be damaged.
Category Three
Winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Mobile homes and other unanchored buildings are destroyed. Small structures sustain moderate damage. Large trees and bushes are blown over. Power outages are widespread with week to month-long recovery time.
Category Four
Winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Small structures sustain major damage, while larger structures sustain moderate damage. Mobile homes are completely destroyed. Roofs are blown off homes, while signs, trees and bushes are all blown over. Piers are destroyed. Small boats are moderately damaged. All utility infrastructures, including water, are severely damaged.
Category Five
Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Catastrophic damage will occur. Small structures are blown over, and many roofs are blown off and away. Mobile homes are completely destroyed, most other homes will be nearly or completely destroyed. Commercial buildings will have widespread damage and destruction. All trees, signs, and bushes are blown over and away.
While the Saffir-Simpson Scale is quite useful, it is not perfect. Hurricanes deliver numerous hazards in addition to high winds, including heavy rainfall, storm surge, and tornadoes that the scale does not account for. The potential damage and affects from each storm are also dependent on the shape of the shoreline regarding storm surge. Effects from hurricanes can also be well removed from the center of the storm where winds are strongest.
Source: The National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center, Wikipedia.
Image: View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 54. (Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth)