Saffir-Simpson

A major hurricane has a sustained wind speed of at least 111 mph and is Category 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale.

Tropical Storm Lee spins in Gulf, ready to wallop with rain 2011

Three to five of those were expected to strengthen into "major" hurricanes of Category 3 or higher on the five-step Saffir-Simpson intensity scale, with top winds of at least 110 miles per hour, it said.

Tropical Storm Emily heads over quake-ravaged Haiti Reuters 2011

So the center has taken any storm surge factor out of the Saffir-Simpson scale.

New hurricane scale puts more focus on storm surge 2011

A major hurricane has a sustained wind speed of at least 111 mph and is Category 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale.

Tropical Storm Lee spins in Gulf, ready to wallop with rain 2011

This is a medium-strength tropical storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Study: Wind May Have Helped Moses Part Red Sea 2010

Dan Trescott, principal long-range planner for the Southwest Florida Regional Planning council, said he is bothered by the fact the Saffir-Simpson scale did not take storm surge into account.

New hurricane scale puts more focus on storm surge 2011

The three hurricanes made clear the inability of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, used by scientists for 36 years, to accurately predict potential wind damage and storm surge by categorizing hurricanes on a scare from 1-5.

New hurricane scale puts more focus on storm surge 2011

The National Hurricane Center acknowledges Saffir-Simpson is limited in its ability to provide a full picture of a hurricane's destructive potential.

New hurricane scale puts more focus on storm surge 2011

The reason is Saffir-Simpson only takes estimated maximum wind speed into account in categorizing a hurricane, said Mark Powell, a scientist with the hurricane research division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and IKE co-creator.

New hurricane scale puts more focus on storm surge 2011

First, there is the well-known Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale.

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