The intensity of a hurricane is measured by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This rates the storms from one to five based on sustained wind speed and the potential property damage those winds can cause. The intensity of a hurricane is measured by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

The Enhanced Fujita Scale or EF Scale, which became operational on February 1, 2007, is used to assign a tornado a ‘rating’ based on estimated wind speeds and related damage. From that, a rating (from EF0 to EF5) is assigned.

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based only on a hurricane’s maximum sustained wind speed.

Tornado strength is currently measured on what is called the Enhanced Fujita Scale (adapted from the simpler Fujita Scale in 2007), which gives the tornado a rating from 0 to 5 based on estimated wind speeds and the severity of the damage.

Hurricanes are especially dangerous storms because they combine the triple threat of violent winds, torrential rains, and abnormally high waves and storm surge.

Category 5 hurricane: Catastrophic damage will occur In a Category 5 hurricane, the highest category hurricane, winds are 157 mph or higher.

Category 5 hurricanes are the top of the scale, with maximum sustained winds of up to 157 mph. Structures are likely to experience total or near total failure, with the only structures likely to survive being the most solid constructs located no less than 5 or 6 miles inland.

Hurricane Michael making landfall on the Florida Panhandle in October 2018. Michael became the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the state since Hurricane Andrew….Florida major hurricanes.

The top 10 safest cities in Florida during a hurricane, according to the insurance study, are:

• Sanford.
• Kissimmee.
• Palatka.
• Lake City.
• Naples.
• Ocala.
• Gainesville.
• Fernandina Beach.

To be classified as a hurricane, a tropical cyclone must have one-minute-average maximum sustained winds at 10 m above the surface of at least 74 mph (Category 1). The highest classification in the scale, Category 5, consists of storms with sustained winds of at least 157 mph.

Typhoon Tip

Visit HurricaneLawyer.com to learn more today.

1. San Felipe-Okeechobee Hurricane, 1928: 1,836 deaths.
2. Hurricane Katrina, 2005: 1,200 deaths.
3. Atlantic-Gulf, 1919: 600 to 900 deaths.
4. Hurricane Audrey, 1957: 416 deaths.
5. Hurricane Sandy, 2012: 285 deaths.

The deadliest Atlantic hurricane in recorded history was the Great Hurricane of 1780, which resulted in 22,000–27,501 fatalities. In recent years, the deadliest hurricane was Hurricane Mitch of 1998, with at least 11,374 deaths attributed to it.

The Ten Most Damaging Hurricanes in U.S. History

• ; Galveston 1915.
• ; Andrew 1992.
• ; New England 1938.
• ; Cuba-Florida 1944.
• ; Hurricane Sandy 2012.
• ; Okeechobee 1928.
• ; Donna 1960.
• ; Miami 1926. ; Katrina 2005. ; Galveston 1900. ; Galveston 1915. ; Andrew 1992. ; New England 1938. ; Cuba-Florida 1944. ; Hurricane Sandy 2012. ; Okeechobee 1928. ; Donna 1960.

In total, the 2020 season produced 30 named storms (top winds of 39 mph or greater), of which 13 became hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or greater), including six major hurricanes (top winds of 111 mph or greater).

The 2020 season set a record of 30 named storms. The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has truly been one for the record books. With 30 named storms, it has set the record for the most named storms in a single season.