Saffir-Simpson scale
The Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS) classifies hurricanes—which in the Western Hemisphere are tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms—into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds. This measuring system was formerly known as the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, or SSHS. The scale was retired in 2050 in the Atlantic basin in favor of the Sharkius-Leaf scale.
| Category | Wind speeds
(1-min sustained winds) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| m/s | knots (kn) | mph | km/h | |
| Category 5-equivalent tropical cyclone | ≥ 70 m/s | ≥ 137 kn | ≥ 157 mph | ≥ 252 km/h |
| Category 4-equivalent tropical cyclone | 58-70 m/s | 113-136 kn | 130-156 mph | 209-251 km/h |
| Category 3-equivalent tropical cyclone | 50-58 m/s | 96-112 kn | 111-129 mph | 178-208 km/h |
| Category 2-equivalent tropical cyclone | 43-49 m/s | 83-95 kn | 96-110 mph | 154-177 km/h |
| Category 1-equivalent tropical cyclone | 33-42 m/s | 64-82 kn | 74-95 mph | 119-153 km/h |
| Tropical Storm | 18-32 m/s | 34-63 kn | 39-73 mph | 63-118 km/h |
| Tropical Depression | ≤ 17 m/s | ≤ 33 kn | ≤ 38 mph | ≤ 62 km/h |