Wind speed is the determining factor in this scale, as storm. 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. The scale originally developed by wind engineer herb saffir and meteorologist bob simpson has been an excellent tool for alerting the public. Katrina was the costliest natural disaster in the u. 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. 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. Saffirsimpson hurricane scale meteorology britannica.
In hurricane katrina a storm that, on the saffirsimpson scale, exhibits winds in the range of 7495 miles per hour 119154 km per hour. Today, the saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale is a 1 to 5 categorization based on the hurricane s intensity at the indicated time. I also created an organizer, the saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale organizer to guide the students through the simulation. 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.
Saffirsimpson hurricane scale national weather service. A 15 rating based on the hurricanes present intensity. Hurricane center nhc defines the saffirsimpson hurricane scale as a 15 rating based on a hurricanes present intensity see table 3. The student is provided with a copy of the saffir simpson scale and asked to produce a sketch for the effects of each category.
What to do before a hurricane planning insurance make sure you have adequate coverage for hurricane damage. Saffirsimpson hurricane scale sam houston electric. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale from one to five based on the. This is the fourth decade in which the saffirsimpson hurricane scale sshs. I removed the phrase with corresponding changes to the. Saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale explained video. I know that this made a difference and helped them better understand. Inventory use church mutuals inventory survey to record a complete written inventory of all your contents. It is only used for storms that are stronger than tropical storms, and become actual hurricanes. Hurricane and tropical storm action plan liberty mutual. Hurricanes reaching category 3 and higher are considered major.
Saffirsimpson hurricane scale cat 1 the saffirsimpson hurricane scale is a 15 rating based on the hurricanes present intensity. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale is a 1 to 5 categorization based on the hurricane s intensity at the indicated time. Nasa national aeronautics and space administration. Lesson 4 hurricane preparedness lesson at a glance. Videographic explaining the saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale used to rate the strength and destructive power of a hurricane. About the saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale national hurricane. This scale is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast from a hurricane landfall. Branching out with tree diagrams printable for either homework or classwork.
Know your communitys local hurricane evacuation plan and identify several. Animation showing an example of hurricane wind damage as measured using the saffirsimpson scale. 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. Hurricanes reaching category 3 and higher are considered major hurricanes because of their potential for significant loss of life and damage. Experimental saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale pdf. S, and the thirdmost deadly, with 1,245 deaths related to the storm. The scale was developed by engineer herbert saffir and pioneer hurricane expert dr robert simpson in 1971. Saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale national hurricane center. The classifications are used mainly to predict the.
Distribute copies of the shake, rattle, and roll worksheet. The weather channel meteorologist mark elliot prepared a video titled why hurricane categories make a difference and explained what each category means. Making a hurricane plan helps to mitigate the hazards. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale is a scale that is used to sort tropical cyclones in the western hemisphere. Saffirsimpson hurricane category chart and information. Sustained winds 3342 ms 7495 mph 6482 kt 119153 kmh storm surge 45 ft 1. It is a fivecategory classification scale for hurricanes distinguished by the intensity. Category 3 and higher hurricanes are considered major hurricanes. This is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage. I know that this made a difference and helped them better understand what happens during each hurricane wind category. The scale is based on sustained wind speeds, storm surge, and potential property damage. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricanes sustained wind speed. A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone, the generic term for a low pressure system that generally forms in the tropics.
The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale classifies hurricanes into five categories based on. In august 2005, hurricane katrina hit the gulf coast as a category 3 storm, with sustained winds up to 140 mph. The original saffirsimpson hurricane damagepotential scale is a hurricane force scale using the numbers 15 to rate a hurricanes intensity. Saffir gave the scale to the nhc, and simpson added the effects of storm surge and flooding. The recently updated saffirsimpson scale engineering express. The scale is intended to roughly predict the amount of expected damage before a hurricane hits land, allowing officials to prepare accordingly. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale is a 1 to 5 categorization based on the.
Saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale extended table pdf. Hurricane centers forecasts as well as local radio and television newscasts whenever a hurricane is in the gulf of mexico. 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. Saffirsimpson scale article about saffirsimpson scale. Major hurricane mh a hurricane which reaches a sustained lowlevel wind of at least 111 mph 96 knots or 50 ms1 at some point in its lifetime. Appendix c saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale c1 appendix d evacuation. National weather service hurricane center, the saffirsimpson hurricane scale, 2012. Saffirsimpson hurricane scale the five categories are, in order of increasing intensity. National hurricane operations plan archived july 8, 2011, at the wayback machine. The saffirsimpson team timothy schott, chris landsea, gene hafele, jeffrey lorens, arthur. 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.
The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane s sustained wind speed. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale was developed in 1971 by herbert saffir a civil engineer and robert simpson a meteorologist. The 5 categories of wind speed indicate expected damage to structures. Saffirsimpson hurricane scale is a measurement scale of hurricane wind and. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale sshws, formerly the saffirsimpson hurricane. To help students understand the data they are going to work with, discuss the saffirsimpson hurricane scale, used to categorize hurricanes according to strength. A category 1 hurricane has slower winds than a category 5 hurricane. Saffirsimpson scale has been listed as one of the natural sciences good articles under the good.
The scale is assigned to a hurricane based on its peak wind. Emergency action plan leader up to date before, during, and after a hurricane. 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. Introduction hurricane and tornadoresistant concrete houses. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale sshs was developed in 1971 by herbert saffir and robert simpson. When a hurricane strikes, help may not be immediately available from the state or federal government. The recently updated saffirsimpson scale engineering. The saffir simpson hurricane wind scale contains 5 categories of wind speeds. This constitutes a category 3 or higher on the saffirsimpson scale. Robert simpson explains saffirsimpson hurricane category. The saffirsimpson hurricane scale, used in the united states, is shown below for comparison. Robert simpson, former director of the national hurricane center, talks about the saffirsimpson scale that categorizes hurricanes. They used the saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale as their guide.
Saffirsimpson hurricane scale scale number category sustained winds mph. Major hurricane day mhd four 6hour periods during which a hurricane has an intensity of saffirsimpson category 3 or higher. This is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast from a hurricane landfall. The saffirsimpson hurricane scale is a 15 rating based on the hurricanes present intensity.
The categories into which the scale separates hurricanes are noted by the strength of their maximum sustained wind speeds. It is important to note that areas that have not prepared. Hurricane facts, 5 categories, 16 item kit list, and. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale sshws is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricanes sustained wind speed. The saffirsimpson hurricane wind scale is designed to help determine wind hazards of an approaching hurricane easier for emergency officials.
Pdf a postlandfall hurricane classification system for the united. The scale provides examples of the type of damage and impacts in. G3 u6 l1 lesson 1 hurricane awareness noaa office for. Visit to find useful information for residents, businesses and visitors of lee county in southwest florida. Sustained winds of 7495 mph, 6482 kt, or 119153 kmhr.
The national hurricane center chooses only a speed range, not s separate range in each unit. High winds are measured according to the saffirsimpson hurricane scale. One piece of information youll hear about repeatedly while studying hurricanes is the saffirsimpson scale of cyclone intensity. You just need to get started, and then encourage a friend, neighbor or family. 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. Hurricanes introduction kids find weather fascinating. The intensity of a hurricane is measured by the saffirsimpson scale. First developed in the late 1960s by herbert saffir, a structural engineer, to quantity potential damage from hurricane winds, the scale was expanded in the early 1970s by robert simpson, then the. The scale is assigned five categories with category 1 assigned to a minimal hurricane and category 5 to a worst case scenario. Hurricanes are categorized according to the saffirsimpson scale in terms of the speed of the winds and the amount of damage they can cause. The scale is based on measurements of sustained wind speed. 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.