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    • Hurricane Milton will be a strong Category 5 storm. What that means
    Enterprise

    Hurricane Milton will be a strong Category 5 storm. What that means

    Idris Bevan Posted on

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    Hurricane Milton is heading straight toward Florida, strengthening into a Category 5 powerhouse on Monday with sustained winds of 160 miles per hour before making landfall later this week.

    Milton is estimated to make landfall around the Tampa and Sarasota area; However, the path is still unclear. Florida officials are advising residents planning to evacuate to do so today, especially as Milton is expected to bring dangerous storm surges and power outages along the Gulf Coast.

    But what exactly does it mean when we label storms “Category 1” or “Category 4”? Here’s what different hurricane categories mean and how they are measured.

    What categories are there for hurricanes? Saffir-Simpson wind scale for evaluating hurricane strength

    The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a rating scale of 1 to 5 based on a hurricane’s sustained wind speed. According to the NWS, it was developed in 1971 by civil engineer Herbert Saffir and meteorologist Robert Simpson and introduced to the public in 1973.

    According to NOAA, the scale does not take into account other hazards such as storm surges, rainfall, floods and tornadoes.

    Here are the different hurricane categories and their impacts:

    Category 1 hurricane: wind speed and damage expected

    • Wind speed: 74-95 mph
    • Effects: Very dangerous winds can cause some damage. Well-built frame homes can have damage to the roof, shingles, vinyl siding, and gutters. Large tree branches break and shallow-rooted trees can fall. Extensive damage to power lines and poles will likely result in power outages lasting a few to several days.

    Category 2 hurricane: wind speed and damage expected

    • Wind speed: 96-110 mph
    • Effects: Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage. In well-built half-timbered houses, significant roof and facade damage can occur. Many shallow-rooted trees are snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. An almost complete power outage is expected, with outages lasting several days to weeks.

    Category 3 hurricane: wind speed and damage expected

    • Wind speed: 111-129 mph. Considered a major hurricane.
    • Effects: There will be devastating damage. Well-built half-timbered houses can experience significant damage or removal of roof coverings and gable ends. Many trees are snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks following the storm.

    Category 4 hurricane: wind speed and damage expected

    • Wind speed: 130-156 mph. Considered a major hurricane.
    • Effects: Catastrophic damage will occur. Well-built frame houses can suffer severe damage due to the loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees are snapped or uprooted and power poles are toppled. Fallen trees and utility poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages can last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.

    Category 5 Hurricane: How bad is a Category 5 hurricane?

    • Wind speed: 157 mph or higher. Considered a major hurricane.
    • Effects: Catastrophic damage will occur. A high percentage of half-timbered houses are destroyed, the roof fails completely and the walls collapse. Fallen trees and utility poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.

    Is Milton a major hurricane? What is considered a major hurricane?

    While all hurricanes produce life-threatening winds, NOAA states that Category 3 and above hurricanes are called major hurricanes.

    Severe hurricanes can cause devastating to catastrophic wind damage and significant loss of life due to the strength of their winds alone. NOAA also notes that hurricanes of all categories can cause deadly storm surge, rain-induced flooding and tornadoes.

    Is there a Category 6 hurricane?

    No. The Saffir-Simpson wind scale goes up to Category 5. Any hurricane with wind speeds over 157 miles per hour is a Category 5 storm.

    The co-founder of the Saffir-Simpson scale, Robert Simpson, explained in a 1991 interview why the scale was not expanded to include Category 5 storms.

    “I think that’s irrelevant because if you’re exposed to wind speeds in excess of 150 mph, you’ve already done enough damage, if that extreme wind is sustained on a building for even six seconds, it’s going to cause breakage damage that’s in everyone Case is serious “Well, it’s constructed,” Simpson said.

    “Maybe it just blows out the windows, but on the other hand it can actually tear the stairwells and elevator shafts and twist them, and that happens in a lot of buildings, so you can’t even use the elevators after you experience it.” Hence I think it doesn’t matter what will happen with wind speeds over 250 km/h. That’s why we didn’t try to fly higher anyway.”

    Contributors: Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal and Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida

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    Idris Bevan
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