Did you know there are five categories of hurricane? 

All of us have heard about hurricanes, haven’t we? A swirling rapid gust of wind and rain that gathers leaves, branches and everything that comes in its way, a hurricane is a scary sight, right? Thankfully, most of us haven’t experienced this severe tropical cyclone that affects major parts of USA every year. But, guess what? Hurricanes, although experienced widely in the USA, are in fact native to the North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and the eastern North Pacific off the west coast of Mexico. They occur only when the speed of the maximum sustained winds is at least 74 miles per hour. This swirling storm is mostly accompanied by rain, lightning and thunder, floods, and at times, even tornadoes. However, most people don’t know that hurricanes can be categorised into five groups, depending on their relative strength. This is measured by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane scale that estimates wind speed. To do so, wind and wind gusts are typically measured over a period of one minute and then averaged together. Here is a low-down on the five known categories of hurricane. 

Category 1 
For starters, hurricane categories are named as Category 1 to 5. A Category 1 hurricane has a defined maximum sustained wind speed between 74 and 95 miles per hour (mph) and is the weakest hurricane category. In fact, at times, Category 1 hurricane drops its wind speed below 74 mph and is then downgraded as merely a tropical storm. Although weak by hurricane standards, Category 1 hurricanes can be dangerous and can even cause roof and gutter damage to poorly built homes, power failures as well as uprooted trees. In this case, the coastal storm surge can reach a height of 3 to 5 feet. A popular example is Hurricane Lili, that happened in Louisiana in 2002.  

Category 2 
Slightly stronger that Category 1, Category 2 hurricanes have the maximum sustained speed of 96 to 110 mph. They can be very dangerous and cause significant damage such as major roof collapse, sustained power outrages (lasting for days to weeks) and blocked roads. Coastal storm surge is known to reach a height of 6 to 8 feet. An example of a Category 2 hurricane is Hurricane Arthur that hit North Carolina in 2014.  

Category 3 
This kind of hurricane is often considered a major one where the maximum sustained wind speed is in between 111 to 129 mph. Category 3 hurricane is known to cause devastating damage such as completely destroying mobile homes, power outrages for weeks, unavailability of drinking water and other basic amenities, and severe damage to both private and public property. Category 3 hurricane has the power to cause a coastal storm surge at a height of 9 to 12 feet. The infamous Hurricane Katrina that had hit Louisiana in 2005 is still regarded as the worst hurricane in US history.  

Category 4 
Category 4 hurricanes are capable of causing catastrophic damage to both life and property. They have a maximum wind speed ranging in between 130 and 156 mph. These kinds of hurricanes are so powerful that they can cause extensive damage even to well-built homes. They also uproot most trees and block road for days at stretch. In fact, electric poles are often uprooted, leading to month long outrages in severely affected areas. The height of the coastal storm surge is usually between 13 to 18 feet. A recent example of Category 4 hurricane is Hurricane Harvey, that affected San Jose Island in Texas, in the year 2017. It claimed the lives of approximately 8000 people. 

Category 5 
Regarded as the most catastrophic hurricane (strongest in nature), a Category 5 hurricane has a maximum sustained wind speed of 157 mph or greater. The damage caused by this kind of hurricane can render a place completely inhabitable for years, until it is rebuilt. In this case, coastal storm surge reaches a crazy height of 18 feet or above. The most recent example of Category 5 hurricane is Hurricane Maria that completely devasted the island country Dominica and even parts of US.