Weather Imagery

Hurricanes are the most powerful storms on Earth in terms of size, energy released, and the scale of damage thay can produced. If the winds are troublesome enough, the storm surge can be as high as 25 feet and often times causes more damage than the wind. However, tornadoes sometimes accompany the hurricane which makes some locations sustain far greater damage than the surrounding areas.

The terms typhoon and hurricane mean the same thing, that is, they are both non-frontal synoptic scale low-pressure systems over tropical or sub-tropical waters with organized convection (i.e.; thuderstorm activity). They name corresponds to their geographic location of where they formed. For example, typhoons form in the Northwest Pacific Ocean west of the dateline. Hurricanes form in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Northeast Pacific Ocean east of the dateline, or the South Pacific Ocean east of 160E.

Category One Hurricane

Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr): Storm surge 4-5 ft above normal. No serious damage to building structures other than cosmetic. Damage is primarily afflicted upon unanchored mobile homes and vegetation. Some damage may occur on large billboard signs. Also, some coastal road flooding. More serious damage is probably due to embedded tornadoes.

Category Two Hurricane

Winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr): Storm surge 6-8 feet above normal. Some roofing material, door, and window damage afflicted upon buildings. Considerable damage vegetation with some larger trees blown down. Considerable damage to mobile homes, billboard signs, and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of the hurricane center due to torrential rains. Small craft in unprotected docks may be set adrift.

Category Three Hurricane

Winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr): Storm surge 9-12 ft above normal. Some structural damage to well built small residences. Utility poles may be downed. Considerable damage to vegetation and large trees may be uprooted. Mobile homes and poorly constructed billboard signs are destroyed. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water due to rain and storm surge 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. More small craft will be set adrift as they break moorings. Terrain continuously lower than 5 ft above mean sea level may be flooded inland 8 miles (13 km) or more. Evacuation of low-lying residences within a mile of the shoreline may be required depending on geography.

Category Four Hurricane

Winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr): Storm surge 13-18 ft above normal and causes substantial damage to low lying areas. Well constructed residential and large buildings start to suffer serious damage. Windows and door are certain to fail along with roofs and sidewalls. Large number of utilities poles will be downed. Vegetation and most large trees are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore due to storm surge. Terrain lower than 10 ft above sea level may be flooded depending on geography and massive evacuations as far as 6 miles (10 km) inland may be required.

Category Five Hurricane

Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr): Storm surge greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures and massive utility pole failures. Many buildings may be totally destroyed. Most large trees and billboard signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Low-lying escape routes are cut or flooded by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane due to storm surge and rain. Massive evacuations of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. Only 3 Category Five Hurricanes have made landfall in the United States since records began: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane Camille (1969), and Hurricane Andrew in August, 1992.