Rant on Saffir-Simpson Scale

[tronbunny]

Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 11:50 am
das8929 wrote:
It annoys me how people react to a Cat 5 differently than a Cat 4. 145 mph storm will do similar damage as a 160 mph storm. Its just the fact that 5s are so rare that people overreact to them.

Please add cat 2 and 3 to that.
"run-of-the-mill" cat 1, 2, 3 is still potentially devastating.
The only difference I see is odds of severe damage.
Also, the size of the storm would increase the odds for each of those levels.
The Saffir-Simpson scale is based on points. There are lots of points inside a hurricane, much like a shotgun blast.

Let's compare a hurricane hit to a shotgun blast...
Would you rather be shot at by a 20gauge vs. a 12gauge?
(equates to would you rather be hit by a cat2 or cat4 hurricane?)
How far away?
How short is the barrel?
Double or single barrel for each?

And now for Central Floridians...
"How many times?"


Look it up if you don't know. That'll take your mind off of Ivan for a little bit.
http://w3.agsfoundation.com/safety/p_shotguns.html

[Josephine96]

A 110 mph storm can probably do similar to a 120 as well

[ColinD]

There's a bigger difference between 145 and 160 then it seems.

The kinetic energy goes as the square of the velocity (wind speed) so the difference in energy between 145 mph and 160 is 20%. Another way to think of it is that the pressure exerted on an object varies as the square of the velocity. This is more intuitive because the pressure exerted on the side of a building or window by wind goes as the square of the velocity.

[das8929]

Well there is a difference but people shouldnt let their guard down just because its not a Cat 5.

[ColinD]

Well there is a difference but people shouldnt let their guard down just because its not a Cat 5.

I agree with you.

[opera ghost]

I think it has a bit to do with this crazy season.

OMG OMG OMG Charley may hit Florida as a Category 3! Tampa will be devistated... Maybe even a Category 4! OMG OMG OMG.

Holy Coy! Frances may hit Florida as a category 4! Holy Cow! OMG OMG OMG Maybe a category5! It'll destroy Palm Beach! Oh No! Oh No!


Oh GOD! Oh GOD! Ivan's a category 5- heading towards Florida! It'll destroy Miami! Oh no Oh no! Oh wait- you mean it might *just* be a category 3? Well hell- we've already had a category 4 and a category 2 and survived- we can take a category 3! Bring it On!

I think it's the large number of majors that are threatening land... If you have someone point a shot gun at you every day for a month, cock back the trigger- hit you once in the shoulder- but the caliber was much smaller than you expected (ala charley who was strong, but small and over quickly)- club you over the head with a steel baseball bat (Good old frances- who was weaker than expected but left a huge number of people black and blue)

And THEN they pull out a gun and threaten to shoot you with an elephant rifle. Well hell- you lived through the beating, you lived through the bullet... the elephant rifle is very worrysome.... but then they switch to a pistol.

Well hell- the aim has been bad so far- it's not like they're likely to hit you in the heart. Bring it on.

Versus a normal day when you're face to face with a pistol and thing OH #@$#$@!

[tronbunny]

The kinetic energy goes as the square of the velocity (widn speed) so the difference in energy between 145 mph and 160 is 20%. Another way to think of it is that the pressure exerted on an object varies as the square of the velocity. This is more intuitive because the pressure exerted on the side of a building or window by wind goes as the square of the velocity.

Thanks for the scientific reply. (I love technical stuff!)

But the real issue is....
Although a cat 4/5 storm is potentially more horrendous, the fact is that it is no more comforting looking at a cat 2/3 landfall than it is looking down the barrel of a shotgun, whether it's a BIG one or a small one.

{/end current rant}

[tronbunny]

I think it has a bit to do with this crazy season.
<snip>
Well hell- the aim has been bad so far- it's not like they're likely to hit you in the heart. Bring it on.

Versus a normal day when you're face to face with a pistol and thing OH #@$#$@!

Very good analogy!
Thanks for the humor that I've been fishing for.