Other Scales:
RSMC Tokyo's
Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale
Official cyclone strength scale for the Western North Pacific.| RSMC Tokyo's Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale | |
|---|---|
| Category | Sustained winds |
| Typhoon | ≥64 kt ≥118 km/h |
| Severe Tropical Storm | 48–63 kt 89–117 km/h |
| Tropical Storm | 34–47 kt 62–88 km/h |
| Tropical Depression |
≤33 kt
≤61 km/h
|
Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale
Category | Wind speed | Storm surge | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Five | (≥ 250km/h) | > 5.5m | ||
Four | (210–249km/h | 4.0–5.5m | ||
Three | (178–209km/h) | 2.7–3.7m | ||
Two | (154–177km/h) | 1.8–2.4m | ||
One | (118–153km/h) | 1.2–1.5m | ||
| Additional classifications | ||||
| Tropical storm | 63–117km/h | 0–0.9m | ||
| Tropical depression | 55-62km/h | 0m | ||
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale (SSHS), or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS), classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds. To be classified as a hurricane, a tropical cyclone must have maximum sustained winds of at least 74 mph (33 m/s; 64 kn; 119 km/h) (Category 1). The highest classification in the scale, Category 5, is reserved for storms with winds exceeding 155 mph (69 m/s; 135 kn; 249 km/h).
Categories
Category 1 storms usually cause no significant structural damage; however, they can topple unanchored mobile homes, as well as uproot or snap trees. Poorly attached roof shingles or tiles can blow off.
| Category 1 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sustained winds
.
Average central pressure:
980hpa
.
Common structure:
Category 1 storms are often very convective and often develops a faint eye.
| 33–42 m/s | 118-153km/h |
| |||
Category 2
Category 2 storms are strong enough to lift a house and inflict damage upon poorly constructed doors and windows. Vegetation, poorly constructed signs, and piers can receive considerable damage.
| Category 2 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sustained winds .
Average central pressure:
965 - 979hpa
.
Common structure:Category 2 Typhoons often do not have a classic eye,and often do not much convection around the storm(except for storms which continue intensifying.
| 43–49 m/s | 154-177km/h |
| |||
Category 3
These storms can cause some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings, particularly those of wood frame or manufactured materials with minor curtain wall failures. Buildings that lack a solid foundation, such as mobile homes, are usually destroyed, and gable-end roofs are peeled off. Manufactured homes usually sustain severe and irreparable damage. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures, while larger structures are struck by floating debris. Additionally, terrain may be flooded well inland. Near-total to total power loss is likely for up to several weeks and water will likely also be lost.
| Category 3 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sustained winds | 50–58 m/s | 178–209 km/h |
| |||
Average central pressure:
945-964hpa
Common
structure:
The amount of convectionaround the system is variable at this stage.Often
more orgaznied than category 1 and 2 storms.
| ||||||
Category 4
Catastrophic damage will occur
Category 4 hurricanes tend to produce more extensive curtainwall failures, with some complete roof structural failure on small residences. Heavy, irreparable damage and near complete destruction of gas station canopies and other wide span overhang type structures are common
Category 5
Additional classifications
| Category 4 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sustained winds:
.
Average central pressure:
920-944hpa
Common
structure:
Often shaped like a Doughnut,and
contains a medium amount of convection.
Near
to the center,
convection is often tightly
packed.
| 58–70 m/s | 209-251km/h |  An example of a Category 4 Typhoon, Typhoon Kujira 2003 | |
Category 5
Catastrophic damage will occur
Category 5 is the highest category a tropical cyclone can obtain in the Saffir-Simpson scale. These storms cause complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings, and some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. Collapse of many wide-span roofs and walls, especially those with no interior supports, is common. Very heavy and irreparable damage to many wood frame structures and total destruction to mobile/manufactured homes is prevalent.Cars are sometimes lifted up in the air for a few seconds.Only a few types of structures are capable of surviving intact, and only if located at least 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km) inland. They include office, condominium and apartment buildings and hotels that are of solid concrete or steel frame construction, public multi-story concrete parking garages, and residences that are made of either reinforced brick or concrete/cement block and have hipped roofs with slopes of no less than 35 degrees from horizontal and no overhangs of any kind, and if the windows are either made of hurricane resistant safety glass or covered with shutters.
| Category 5 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sustained winds Common structure:
Often looking like a large spiral with variable amount of convection.Convection
is often tightly packed near the center.
55% of category 5 typhoons have small eyes raging from 20-40km across.Very organized.
| ≥ 70 m/s | ≥ 250 km/h |
| ||
Additional classifications
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