Thread: New (experimental) Saffir Simpson Scale for 2009

New Name: Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
Old Name: Saffir simpson Hurricane Scale

References to storm surge and flooding have been removed from the definition and descriptions of Hurricane Categores 1 through 5.

Reason
There is no real life hard correlation between top one minute sustained wind speed and severity of surge or floods, which are governed by factors other than wind.

Examples:

Katrina, which came ashore as a Category 3 in 2005. Yet, we all saw what she did to New Orleans and the surrounding area, with a storm surge and flooding well inito the equivalent of a Cat 5 storm..

Last year, Ike, which made landfall as a mere category 2, took lives and laid waste to large portions of Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula. Once again, it was strong storm surge and flooding that did the damage. They were on the order of Cat 4 to 5 damage.

Category One Hurricane: Sustained winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Damaging winds are expected. Some damage to building structures could occur, primarily to unanchored mobile homes (mainly pre-1994 construction). Some damage is likely to poorly constructed signs. Loose outdoor items will become projectiles, causing additional damage. Persons struck by windborne debris risk injury and possible death. Numerous large branches of healthy trees will snap. Some trees will be uprooted, especially where the ground is saturated. Many areas will experience power outages with some downed power poles. Hurricane Cindy (pdf) (2005, 75 mph winds at landfall in Louisiana) and Hurricane Gaston (2004, 75 mph winds at landfall in South Carolina) are examples of Category One hurricanes at landfall.

Category Two Hurricane: Sustained winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Very strong winds will produce widespread damage. Some roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings will occur. Considerable damage to mobile homes (mainly pre-1994 construction) and poorly constructed signs is likely. A number of glass windows in high rise buildings will be dislodged and become airborne. Loose outdoor items will become projectiles, causing additional damage. Persons struck by windborne debris risk injury and possible death.. Numerous large branches will break. Many trees will be uprooted or snapped. Extensive damage to power lines and poles will likely result in widespread power outages that could last a few to several days. Hurricane Erin (1995, 100 mph at landfall in northwest Florida) and Hurricane Isabel (2003, 105 mph at landfall in North Carolina) are examples of Category Two hurricanes at landfall.

Category Three Hurricane: Sustained winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Dangerous winds will cause extensive damage. Some structural damage to houses and buildings will occur with a minor amount of wall failures. Mobile homes (mainly pre-1994 construction) and poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Many windows in high rise buildings will be dislodged and become airborne. Persons struck by windborne debris risk injury and possible death. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. Near total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks. Hurricane Rita (pdf) (2005, 115 mph landfall in east Texas/Louisiana) and Hurricane Jeanne (2004, 120 mph landfall in southeast Florida) are examples of Category Three hurricanes at landfall.

Category Four Hurricane: Sustained winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Extremely dangerous winds causing devastating damage are expected. Some wall failures with some complete roof structure failures on houses will occur. All signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes (primarily pre-1994 construction). Extensive damage to doors and windows is likely. Numerous windows in high rise buildings will be dislodged and become airborne. Windborne debris will cause extensive damage and persons struck by the wind-blown debris will be injured or killed. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted. Fallen trees could cut off residential areas for days to weeks. Electricity will be unavailable for weeks after the hurricane passes. Hurricane Charley (2004, 145 mph at landfall in southwest Florida) and Hurricane Hugo (1989, 140 mph at landfall in South Carolina) are examples of Category Four hurricanes at landfall.

Category Five Hurricane: Sustained winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Catastrophic damage is expected. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings will occur. Some complete building failures with small buildings blown over or away are likely. All signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes (built in any year). Severe and extensive window and door damage will occur. Nearly all windows in high rise buildings will be dislodged and become airborne. Severe injury or death is likely for persons struck by wind-blown debris. Nearly all trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Hurricane Camille (pdf) (1969, 190 mph at landfall in Mississippi) and Hurricane Andrew (1992, 165 mph at landfall in Southeast Florida) are examples of Category Five hurricanes at landfall.


FRoM: The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (Experimental)

The public is urged to consider the category of the storm as ONLY a wind speed measure, and to consult the following for information on posssible other effects of any aproaching tropical system:

Tropical Cyclone Public Advisories from the NHC

Graphical Tropical Syclone Storm Surge Probabilities (NHC)

Local Weather Forecast Offices products, including Hurricane Local Sstataements, Special Weather Statements, and Coastal Hazaard Messages.

Thanks for the update! We need all the info we can get during the storm season.

I think this is a mixed bag . . .

5 days until
the start of
2009 Atlantic Basin
Hurricane Season

I have more emergency lights for the house this year. I also bought 2 power inverters - one for each car - so things can be charged or powered on car batteries if necessary. If you read about the only light on a street in Houston coming from a laptop in a car, and a man looking at it to check out football scores, that will be my husband. (Storms usually hit here later in the year)

We will all dilligently watch the news for just that scenario! And when we see it, we'll point, and nod knowingly.