FORE & AFT MARINE
| Category |
Wind Strength/Pressure |
Effects |
| 1 |
65 to 83 knots 74 to 95 mph 119 to 153 kph > 980 mb |
Storm surge generally 4-5 ft above normal. No real damage
to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes,
shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs. Also,
some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage. Hurricanes Allison
of 1995 and Danny of 1997 were Category One hurricanes at peak
intensity. |
| 2 |
84 to 95 knots 96 to 110 mph 154 to 177 kph 980 - 965 mb |
Storm surge generally 6-8 feet above normal. Some roofing
material, door, and window damage of buildings. Considerable damage to
shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down. Considerable damage to
mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers. Coastal and
low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of the
hurricane center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break
moorings. Hurricane Bertha of 1996 was a Category Two hurricane when
it hit the North Carolina coast, while Hurricane Marilyn of 1995 was a
Category Two Hurricane when it passed through the Virgin Islands. |
| 3 |
96 to 113 knots 111 to 130 mph 178 to 209 kph 964 - 945 mb |
Storm surge generally 9-12 ft above normal. Some
structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a
minor amount of curtainwall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees
with foliage blown off trees and large tress blown down. Mobile homes
and poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Low-lying escape routes
are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the hurricane
center. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with
larger structures damaged by battering of floating debris. Terrain
continuously lower than 5 ft above mean sea level may be flooded
inland 8 miles (13 km) or more. Evacuation of low-lying residences
with several blocks of the shoreline may be required. Hurricanes
Roxanne of 1995 and Fran of 1996 were Category Three hurricanes at
landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and in North Carolina,
respectively. |
| 4 |
114 to 134 knots 131 to 155 mph 210 to 249 kph 944- 920 mb |
Storm surge generally 13-18 ft above normal. More
extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof structure
failures on small residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown
down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors
and windows. Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3-5
hours before arrival of the hurricane center. Major damage to lower
floors of structures near the shore. Terrain lower than 10 ft above
sea level may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential
areas as far inland as 6 miles (10 km). Hurricane Luis of 1995 was a
Category Four hurricane while moving over the Leeward Islands.
Hurricanes Felix and Opal of 1995 also reached Category Four status at
peak intensity. |
| 5 |
135+ knots 155+ mph 249+ kph < 920 mb |
Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above normal.
Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings.
Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown
over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete
destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door
damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours
before arrival of the hurricane center. Major damage to lower floors
of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and within
500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on
low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be
required. There were no Category Five hurricanes in 1995, 1996, or
1997. Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 was a Category Five hurricane at peak
intensity and is the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclone of record. |