Storm Season Review
The storm season is coming. Mock disaster drills are being held by local governments across the nation. Now would be a good time for a review of the strength of storm categories.
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is used to measure a hurricane's strength.
Category One - Winds 74-95 mph, storm surge 4-5 feet above normal
Category Two - Winds 96-110 mph, storm surge 6-8 feet above normal
Category Three - Winds 111-130 mph, storm surge 9-12 feet above normal
Category Four - Winds 131-155 mph, storm surge 13-18 feet above normal
Category Five - Winds greater than 155 mph, storm surge greater than 18 feet above normal
The Fujita scale is used to measure a tornado's strength.
F0 - Winds 40-72 mph, Some damage to chimneys; breaks branches off trees; pushes over shallow-rooted trees; damages sign boards.
F1 - Winds 73-112 mph, The lower limit is the beginning of hurricane wind speed; peels surface off roofs; mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned; moving autos pushed off the roads; attached garages may be destroyed.
F2 - Winds 113-157 mph, Considerable damage. Roofs torn off frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars pushed over; large trees snapped or uprooted; light object missiles generated.
F3 - Winds 158-206 mph, Roof and some walls torn off well constructed houses; trains overturned; most trees in forest uprooted.
F4- Winds 207-260 mph, Well-constructed houses leveled; structures with weak foundations blown off some distance; cars thrown and large missiles generated.
F5 - Winds 261-318 mph, Strong frame houses lifted off foundations and carried considerable distances to disintegrate; automobile sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 meters; trees debarked; steel reinforced concrete structures badly damaged.
Here's hoping none of these hit you!
Al Arnold
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