GEOHAZ2001 page 078

SUMMER 2003GEOHAZARDS COURSE AT UWI, MONA - page 078

Prepared and compiled by Rafi Ahmad, Unit for Disaster Studies,
Department of Geography and Geology,
University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica

HURRICANE GEORGES THREATS
Hurricane Intensity

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Damage-Potential Scale measures a hurricane's intensity on a 1-5 rating and is based on the wind speed.
Briefly what are these categories:

CATEGORY Central air pressure
in millibars Windspeed
in metres/second Surge Height
in metres Damage potential

ONE more than 979 32.7 to 42.6 1.2 to 1.5 minimal

TWO 965 to 979 42.7 to 49.5 1.8 to 2.4 moderate

THREE 945 to 964 49.6 to 58.5 2.7 to 3.6 extensive

FOUR 920 to 944 58.6 to 69.4 4.0 to 5.5 extreme

FIVE less than 920 more than 69.5 more than 5.5 catastrophic

BLO 20010531 - - - COMMENTS ? - - - next page - - - Table of Contents

CATEGORY	Central air pressure in millibars	Windspeed in metres/second	Surge Height in metres	Damage potential
ONE	more than 979	32.7 to 42.6	1.2 to 1.5	minimal
TWO	965 to 979	42.7 to 49.5	1.8 to 2.4	moderate
THREE	945 to 964	49.6 to 58.5	2.7 to 3.6	extensive
FOUR	920 to 944	58.6 to 69.4	4.0 to 5.5	extreme
FIVE	less than 920	more than 69.5	more than 5.5	catastrophic