What is the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale?
Q: What is the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale?
A: The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a scale used to sort tropical cyclones in the Western Hemisphere. It categorizes hurricanes based on their maximum sustained wind speeds and is mainly used to predict possible wind damage when a hurricane makes landfall.
Q: Does the scale measure rainfall, storm surge or width of storms?
A: No, the scale does not measure rainfall, storm surge or how wide the storm is.
Q: Is this scale only used for Atlantic and Northern Pacific Ocean hurricanes?
A: Yes, the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is only used to describe hurricanes that form in the Atlantic Ocean and northern Pacific Ocean east of the International Date Line. Other areas use different classification scales and names for their tropical storms.
Q: When was this scale introduced?
A: The National Hurricane Center made changes to this scale in 2002 which allowed it to be used for subtropical cyclones as well.
Q: Are there any other uses for this scale besides predicting wind damage from landfalling hurricanes?
A: Not that are widely known or accepted by meteorologists and other experts in weather forecasting.
Q: What types of storms does this scale classify? A: This scale classifies storms that are stronger than "tropical storms" into categories based on their maximum sustained wind speeds.
