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A category 3 hurricane has sustained winds of 111-130 mph. A category 4 has winds of 131-155 mph.

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Q: What are the wind speeds of category 3 and 4 hurricanes?
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How are hurricanes ranked in severity?

You rate a hurricane by the intencity of the winds. This is measured in category (CAT). CAT 1 is a hurricane with winds of 74-95 mph CAT 2-Winds of 96-110 Cat 3-Winds of 111-130 Cat 4-Winds of 131-155 Cat 5-Winds of 155+ Although you think CAT 5 must be catastrophic, and CAT 1 must be nothing, Then think again! Take this example-Katrina was only a CAT 3, but it damaged levees which in turn flooded New Orleans.


Are there different types of hurricanes?

The categories of hurricanes are based on the maximum sustained wind speeds. They are: Category 1: 74-95 mph Category 2: 96-110 mph Category 3: 111-130 mph (beginning of a major hurricane) Category 4: 131-155 mph Category 5: 156+ mph


What wind speed is considered a hurricane?

The lowest category on the Saffir-Simpson scale is the Category 1 with sustained winds of: 74-95 mph 64-82 kt 119-153 km/h Of course you can get gusts higher than that during the hurricane. Tropical storms may have gusts reaching that range but if they are not sustained winds, it doesn't get promoted to the category of a hurricane. Note that hurricanes are defined not only by windspeed but also as part of tropical cyclone weather system. Category 2 hurricanes are sustained winds of: 96-110 mph 83-95 kt 154-177 km/h Category 3 hurricanes are sustained winds of: 111-129 mph 96-112 kt 178-208 km/h Category 4 hurricanes are sustained winds of: 130-156 mph 113-136 kt 209-251 km/h Category 5 hurricanes are sustained winds of: 157 mph or higher 137 kt or higher 252 km/h or higher Since CAT 5 has no upper limit for wind speed there is no such thing as a CAT 6 or higher.


How does the Saffir-Simpson Scale work?

The Saffir-Simpson Scale rates hurricanes from category 1 to category 5 bases on wind speed. Category 1: 74-95 mph Category 2: 96-110 mph Category 3: 111-130 mph Category 4: 131-155 mph Category 5: over 155 mph


How do meteorologists determine the name of the hurricane?

A hurricane's category is decided based on wind speed. Each category has its own wind speed range. The National Hurricane Center decided the category of a hurricane based on how fast it sustained winds are. Here is the list. Category 1: 74-95 mph Category 2: 96-110 mph Category 3: 111-130 mph Category 4: 131-155 mph Category 5: 156+ mph A major hurricane starts at category 3.

Related questions

What were the top wind speeds of Hurricane Sandy?

As a category 3 hurricane, Sandy produced wind speeds of 115 mph in eastern Cuba.


What category hurricane is most common?

A category 1 hurricane is the weakest category of hurricane, with wind from 74 mph to 95 mph


How are hurricanes classified according to intensity?

Hurricanes are classified on the Saffir-Simpson scale base on their maximum sustained wind speed. They are as follows: Category 1: 74-95 mph Category 2: 96-110 mph Category 3: 111-129 mph Category 4: 130-156 mph Category 5: 157 mph or higher Hurricanes of category 3 or greater intensity are considered major hurricanes.


Is it true category 5 hurricanes are the most destructive?

Yes. The five categories of the Saffir-Simpson scale are based on a hurricane's sustained wind speed. They are: Category 1: 74-95 mph Category 2: 96-110 mph Category 3: 111-130 mph Category 4: 131-155 mph Category 5: 156+ mph


How are hurricanes ranked in severity?

You rate a hurricane by the intencity of the winds. This is measured in category (CAT). CAT 1 is a hurricane with winds of 74-95 mph CAT 2-Winds of 96-110 Cat 3-Winds of 111-130 Cat 4-Winds of 131-155 Cat 5-Winds of 155+ Although you think CAT 5 must be catastrophic, and CAT 1 must be nothing, Then think again! Take this example-Katrina was only a CAT 3, but it damaged levees which in turn flooded New Orleans.


What is aSaffir-Simpson scale?

The Saffir-Simpson scale is a scale that rates hurricanes based on maximum sustained wind speeds, it has 5 categories of hurricanes and 2 additional categories weaker than a hurricane. these are the categories wind maximum sustained winds: Sub-hurricane: Tropical depression: under 39 mph. Tropical storm: 39-73 mph Hurricane: Category 1: 74-95 mph Category 2: 96-110 mph Major hurricane: Category 3: 111-130 mph Category 4: 131-155 mph Category 5: over 155 mph.


Are there different types of hurricanes?

The categories of hurricanes are based on the maximum sustained wind speeds. They are: Category 1: 74-95 mph Category 2: 96-110 mph Category 3: 111-130 mph (beginning of a major hurricane) Category 4: 131-155 mph Category 5: 156+ mph


What wind speed is considered a hurricane?

The lowest category on the Saffir-Simpson scale is the Category 1 with sustained winds of: 74-95 mph 64-82 kt 119-153 km/h Of course you can get gusts higher than that during the hurricane. Tropical storms may have gusts reaching that range but if they are not sustained winds, it doesn't get promoted to the category of a hurricane. Note that hurricanes are defined not only by windspeed but also as part of tropical cyclone weather system. Category 2 hurricanes are sustained winds of: 96-110 mph 83-95 kt 154-177 km/h Category 3 hurricanes are sustained winds of: 111-129 mph 96-112 kt 178-208 km/h Category 4 hurricanes are sustained winds of: 130-156 mph 113-136 kt 209-251 km/h Category 5 hurricanes are sustained winds of: 157 mph or higher 137 kt or higher 252 km/h or higher Since CAT 5 has no upper limit for wind speed there is no such thing as a CAT 6 or higher.


What is the width of a category 3 hurricane?

There is no given size. Hurricanes are rated based on wind speed, not size and there is no real curreclation between the strength of a hurricane and its size. A category 3 hurricane has sustained winds of 111 to 129 mph.


What is the strength of a category 3 hurricane?

A category 3 hurricanes has sustained winds of 111 to 129 mph.


What are the wind speeds on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale?

Category 1: 74-95 mph Category 2: 96-110 mph Category 3: 111-129 mph Category 4: 130-156 mph Category 5: over 156 mph.


How are typhoons measured?

Cyclones of the southern hemisphere are measured by wind speed and assigned a category number. Whether or not they are classified as a cyclone is also determined by barometric pressure. Wind speeds determine the category as follows: Category 1: winds up to 125km/h Category 2: 125- 170 km/h Category 3: 170 - 225 km/h Category 4: 225 - 280 km/h Category 5: in excess of 280 km/h Hurricanes, which are cyclones in the north-western hemisphere, are measured on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The categories are measured as follows: Tropical Storm - Winds 39-73 mph Category 1 Hurricane - winds 74-95 mph Category 2 Hurricane - winds 96-110 mph Category 3 Hurricane - winds 111-130 mph Category 4 Hurricane - winds 131-155 mph Category 5 Hurricane - winds 156 mph and up