Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Intensity Scale Flashcards
Max sust wind (km/h): 154-177 Min surface pressure (mb): 979-965 Storm surge (m): 1.8-2.6 Some roofing material, door, and window damage to buildings. Considerable damage to vegetation, mobile homes, and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings
2
Max sust wind (km/h): >249 Min surface pressure (mb): <920 Storm surge (m): >5.6 Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 feet ASL and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5 to 10 miles of the shoreline may be required
5
Max sust wind (km/h): 178-209 Min surface pressure (mb): 964-945 Storm surge (m): 2.7-3.8 Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Mobile homes are destroyed. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 feet ASL may be flooded inland 8 miles or more
3
Max sust wind (km/h): 119-153 Min surface pressure (mb): >980 Storm surge (m): 1.0-1.7 No real damage to building structures. Damage primarly to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage
1
Max sust wind (km/h): 210-249 Min surface pressure (mb): 944-920 Storm surge (m): 3.9-5.6 More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof strucutre failure on small residences. Major erosion of beach. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Terrain continuously lower than 10 feet ASL may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas inland as far as 6 miles
4