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Hurricane categories (Saffir-Simpson scale)
The category measures wind only. Rain, flooding and storm surge can be deadly even in a tropical storm or a Category 1 hurricane.
| Level | Sustained winds | What can happen |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | up to 38 mph | Heavy rain and flooding. |
| Tropical storm | 39 to 73 mph | Downed branches and trees, power outages, flooding. |
| Category 1 | 74 to 95 mph | Damage to roofs, siding and gutters; outages that can last days. |
| Category 2 | 96 to 110 mph | Major roof and siding damage; many trees uprooted; outages for days to weeks. |
| Category 3 | 111 to 129 mph | Major hurricane: devastating damage to homes; no power or water for days to weeks. |
| Category 4 | 130 to 156 mph | Catastrophic damage: homes can lose roofs and walls; areas uninhabitable for weeks. |
| Category 5 | 157 mph or higher | Catastrophic damage: a high share of homes destroyed; areas uninhabitable for weeks or months. |
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, used by the National Hurricane Center. One-minute sustained winds; gusts are stronger.