Hurricane Categories Explained — the Saffir-Simpson Scale
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale rates hurricanes 1–5 by maximum sustained wind — a one-minute average at 10 meters. The categories:
- Category 1 — 74–95 mph (64–82 kt): damaging winds; power outages likely.
- Category 2 — 96–110 mph (83–95 kt): extensive damage; near-total power loss.
- Category 3 (major) — 111–129 mph (96–112 kt): devastating damage; utilities out for days–weeks.
- Category 4 (major) — 130–156 mph (113–136 kt): catastrophic; most of the area uninhabitable for weeks.
- Category 5 (major) — 157+ mph (137+ kt): total roof failure and wall collapse common.
Damage doesn't scale linearly: a Category 4 produces roughly 100–250× the damage of a Category 1, which is why "major hurricane" (Cat 3+) is a meaningful threshold.
What the category doesn't tell you
The scale measures wind only. Water kills far more people — storm surge and freshwater flooding account for roughly three-quarters of US tropical-cyclone deaths. Hurricane Harvey (2017) did most of its damage as a weakening storm through rain; Sandy (2012) wasn't even a hurricane at landfall by wind. Never dismiss a "Cat 1" — and never judge flood risk by category.
Browse every Category 5 since 2015 in our record book, or explore any storm's category timeline on its archive page.
FAQ
What wind speed is each hurricane category?
Category 1: 74–95 mph. Category 2: 96–110. Category 3: 111–129. Category 4: 130–156. Category 5: 157 mph or higher — measured as one-minute sustained winds.
What is a major hurricane?
Category 3 or stronger (111+ mph). The 'major' threshold matters because damage grows exponentially with wind speed — a Cat 4 causes on the order of 100–250 times the damage of a Cat 1.
Why are low-category storms still dangerous?
The scale only measures wind. Storm surge and rain flooding — the deadliest hazards — don't follow the category. Harvey's catastrophic flooding happened after it weakened below hurricane strength.