The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and runs by way of Nov. 30. Hurricanes are rated on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which incorporates 5 classes primarily based on the storm’s sustained wind speeds. It additionally estimates potential harm to property, starting from “some harm” to “catastrophic.”
The Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an “above common” season for 2024, with with 17 to 25 named storms, 8 to 13 hurricanes, and 4 to 7 main hurricanes of Class 3 or larger.
The primary hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, Hurricane Erin, quickly intensified to a fierce Class 5 on Aug. 16 earlier than weakening barely. It was not forecast to make any direct landfall.
What’s a “main hurricane?”
If a storm is a Class 3, 4 or 5, it’s deemed a “main” hurricane as a result of potential for “vital lack of life and harm,” the Nationwide Hurricane Middle says. Hurricanes that fall into classes 1 or 2 are nonetheless thought-about harmful, the middle says.
What are the classes of hurricanes and what do they imply?
Right here is how the dimensions breaks down, in accordance with the Nationwide Hurricane Middle, beginning with a take a look at essentially the most highly effective:
Class 5
Sustained wind pace of 157 mph or larger
- “Catastrophic harm will happen: A excessive share of framed properties can be destroyed, with complete roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen timber and energy poles will isolate residential areas. Energy outages will final for weeks to probably months. Many of the space can be uninhabitable for weeks or months,” the Nationwide Hurricane Middle says.
- Notable storms: Class 5 storms embrace 1992’s Hurricane Andrew, essentially the most harmful storm to ever hit Florida; 2017’s Irma, which devastated Barbuda, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Anguilla, and the Virgin Islands as a Class 5 earlier than it surpassed Andrew as the most expensive hurricane to ever hit Florida when it made landfall there as a Class 4; and 1969’s Camille, which introduced a peak storm surge of 24 toes and killed greater than 250 individuals after it made landfall in Mississippi.
Class 4
Sustained wind pace of 130-156 mph
- “Catastrophic harm will happen: Properly-built framed properties can maintain extreme harm with lack of a lot of the roof construction and/or some exterior partitions. Most timber can be snapped or uprooted and energy poles downed. Fallen timber and energy poles will isolate residential areas. Energy outages will final weeks to probably months. Many of the space can be uninhabitable for weeks or months.”
- Notable storms: Hurricane Harvey made landfall as a Class 4 storm in Texas and Louisiana in 2017, leaving catastrophic flooding in its wake; 2021’s Hurricane Ida got here ashore in Louisiana as a Class 4, the place it prompted extreme flooding, knocked out energy to greater than 1,000,000 individuals and spawned tornadoes because it moved northeast.
Class 3
Sustained wind pace of 111-129 mph
- “Devastating harm will happen: Properly-built framed properties could incur main harm or removing of roof decking and gable ends. Many timber can be snapped or uprooted, blocking quite a few roads. Electrical energy and water can be unavailable for a number of days to weeks after the storm passes.”
- Notable storms: The busy 2020 hurricane season noticed late-season Hurricane Zeta strengthen to a Class 3 storm simply earlier than making landfall in Louisiana as a Class 2 storm; 2005’s Hurricane Wilma, which had achieved a peak of Class 5, was a Class 3 when the storm hit Florida.
Class 2
Sustained wind pace of 96-110 mph
- “Extraordinarily harmful winds will trigger intensive harm: Properly-constructed body properties might maintain main roof and siding harm. Many shallowly rooted timber can be snapped or uprooted and block quite a few roads. Close to-total energy loss is anticipated with outages that would final from a number of days to weeks.”
- Notable storms: Hurricane Floyd made landfall North Carolina in 1999 as a Class 2 storm, inflicting widespread flooding because it traveled up the coast and resulting in the cancellation of faculties in New Jersey and New York Metropolis; when Hurricane Ike made landfall as a Class 2 storm in Texas in 2008, it had weakened from its peak energy as a Class 4 storm.
Class 1
Sustained wind pace of 74-95 mph
- “Very harmful winds will produce some harm: Properly-constructed body properties might have harm to roof, shingles, vinyl siding and gutters. Massive branches of timber will snap and shallowly rooted timber could also be toppled. In depth harm to energy strains and poles possible will lead to energy outages that would final just a few to a number of days.”
- Notable storms: Hurricane Sandy was solely a Class 1 storm when the superstorm got here ashore in New Jersey in 2012, its storm surge flooding New York Metropolis; 2011’s Hurricane Irene was a Class 1 storm when it hit North Carolina, however had weakened to a tropical storm by the point it returned to land in New Jersey, inflicting widespread flooding there, in New York and as north as Vermont.
Ought to there be a Class 6?
Within the midst of an unusually ferocious string of hurricanes in 2017, there was some hypothesis about whether or not storms might hit a Class 6. There’s formally no such factor as a Class 6 hurricane. However the thought of revising or including to the dimensions has been mentioned by some local weather scientists who imagine the present classes might not be sufficient for more and more excessive storms sooner or later.
What class was Hurricane Katrina?
Hurricane Katrina, in 2005, reached Class 5 over the Gulf of Mexico however made landfall as a Class 3 storm, in the end flooding greater than 80% of New Orleans and killing greater than 1,200 individuals — making it one of many deadliest hurricanes to strike the U.S. It is among the costliest hurricanes in U.S. historical past, doing greater than $75 billion in harm. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida all noticed destruction from Katrina.
What class was Hurricane Ian?
Hurricane Ian was a robust Class 4 because it made landfall on Florida’s west coast in 2022. The lethal storm knocked out energy to thousands and thousands. Consultants mentioned the storm’s speedy intensification, because of heat sea temperatures — and warming seas are linked to local weather change, which is able to possible not solely make robust hurricanes happen extra often, make storms transfer extra slowly and permit them to carry extra water, resulting in extra rain.
