A hurricane is a powerful, swirling storm that begins over a warm sea. Hurricanes form in waters near the equator, and then they move toward the poles.
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale classifies hurricanes into five levels of intensity.
Category 1: Sustained winds of 74-95 mph; no significant structural damage; coastal flooding; widespread power outages.
Category 2: Sustained winds of 96-110 mph; considerable damage on poor construction; power outages, loss of potable water very likely for days
Category 3: Sustained winds of 111-130 mph; destruction of homes and building without a solid foundation; power loss for weeks
Category 4: Sustained winds of 131-155 mph; heavy, irreparable damage, power loss for weeks
Category 5: Sustained winds of more than 156 mph; complete roof failure on majority of buildings; evacuations required; very few buildings stay intact; power and water loss possible for months
A hurricane is a powerful, swirling storm that begins over a warm sea. Hurricanes form in waters near the equator, and then they move toward the poles.
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale classifies hurricanes into five levels of intensity.
Category 1: Sustained winds of 74-95 mph; no significant structural damage; coastal flooding; widespread power outages.
Category 2: Sustained winds of 96-110 mph; considerable damage on poor construction; power outages, loss of potable water very likely for days
Category 3: Sustained winds of 111-130 mph; destruction of homes and building without a solid foundation; power loss for weeks
Category 4: Sustained winds of 131-155 mph; heavy, irreparable damage, power loss for weeks
Category 5: Sustained winds of more than 156 mph; complete roof failure on majority of buildings; evacuations required; very few buildings stay intact; power and water loss possible for months
A category 5 hurricane is much stronger than a category 1. The Saffir-Simpson scale rates hurricane from Category 1 to category 5 based on wind speed.
Category 1 winds are 74 mph to 95 mph.
Category 5 winds are 156 mph and faster.
A category 5 hurricane brings larger waves and usually a higher storm surge.
The Saffir-Simpson scale rates hurricanes from category 1 to category 5 based on wind speed. Category winds are 96 to 110 mph. Category 4 winds are 130 to 156 mph. Category 5 winds are 157 mph and higher. Generally speaking a storm that is a category 4 or 5 at landfall can be expected to be far more destructive than a category 2.
Wind intensity.
A category 4 hurricane has winds from 131 mph to 155 mph.
A category 5 hurricanes has 156 mph winds and stronger.
No. Category 1 is the lowest level of hurricane strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
The difference is in wind speed. A category 2 hurricane has sustained winds in the range of 96-110 mph. A category 4 hurricane has winds in the range of 130-156 mph.
A category 1 hurricane has sustained winds of 74-95 mph. Category 2, 96-110 mph.
The difference in maximum sustained wind speeds between a category 1 and category 2 hurricane is 15-25 mph. Category 1 hurricanes have maximum sustained winds of 74-95 mph, while category 2 hurricanes have maximum sustained winds of 96-110 mph.
Category 2 winds range from 96 to 110 mph. Category 5 winds are at least 156 mph.
Currently Tomas is a category 1 hurricane, though earlier it was a category 2.
The difference is in wind speed. A category 2 hurricane has sustained winds in the range of 96-110 mph. A category 4 hurricane has winds in the range of 130-156 mph.
A category 1 hurricane has sustained winds of 74-95 mph. Category 2, 96-110 mph.
The difference in maximum sustained wind speeds between a category 1 and category 2 hurricane is 15-25 mph. Category 1 hurricanes have maximum sustained winds of 74-95 mph, while category 2 hurricanes have maximum sustained winds of 96-110 mph.
Category 2 winds range from 96 to 110 mph. Category 5 winds are at least 156 mph.
Hurricane Mitch was a category 5 hurricane.
Hurricane Arthur (2014) was a category 2 hurricane.
Hurricane Alex was a category 2
No, Hurricane Alex was a category 2.
Currently Tomas is a category 1 hurricane, though earlier it was a category 2.
A category 2 hurricane has sustained winds of 96 to 110 mph.
Sustained winds of a category 2 hurricane are 96-110 mph.
Hurricane Sandy was only a Category 2 hurricane a peak strength and a category 1 at landfall in the U.S.