What does the Hurricane Ranks mean?

[Gothpunk-IL-WX]

Just Curious as to what they mean and how do you earn them the hurricane signs and ranks.

[yoda]

Tropical Low = 1
Tropical Wave = 100
Tropical Depression = 250
Tropical Storm = 500
Category 1 Hurricane = 1000
Category 2 Hurricane = 2500
Category 3 Hurricane = 5000
Category 4 Hurricane = 7500
Category 5 Hurricane = 10000

[SouthernWx]

Just Curious as to what they mean and how do you earn them the hurricane signs and ranks.

As Matt (yoda) posted above, the different rankings are based on number of posts here at Storm2K...

The categories (1-5) are based on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane intensity rating scale, developed over three decades ago by structural engineer Dr Herbert Saffir, and then Director of the National Hurricane Center Dr Robert H. Simpson.

A category 1 hurricane has sustained winds between 74 and 95 mph, and is capable of only "minimal" wind damage, although freshwater flooding can be disasterous and deadly in even weak tropical systems.



category 2
sustained winds between 96-110 mph; capable of moderate wind damage and a storm surge of 6-8' feet.

Hurricane Frances which struck SE Florida last September was a cat-2 hurricane at landfall.



category 3
a major hurricane with sustained winds between 111-130 mph. Hurricanes of this intensity are capable of major damage, and produce storm surges between 9-12' feet.

In 2004, both hurricane Ivan and Jeanne were category 3 hurricanes at time of landfall on the U.S.


category 4
a severe hurricane with sustained winds between 131 and 155 mph. A hurricane of this extreme intensity is capable of severe damage...and a devastating storms surge of 13-18' feet or more.

Memorable U.S. hurricanes such as Charley, Hugo, Carla, Donna, and Audrey were cat-4 at landfall, as was the horrific Galveston hurricane in 1900 which took over 8000 lives.



category 5
Once a hurricane's sustained winds reach 156 mph, it is upgraded to category 5 status, and at that intensity is capable of catastrophic damage and loss of life. A hurricane of this intensity usually has a central pressure below 920 mb, and is capable of storm surges in excess of 19'. Only three hurricanes have slammed into the U.S. at cat-5 strength....the deadly 1935 "Labor Day" hurricane in the Florida Keys; hurricane Camille in 1969; and hurricane Andrew in southern Dade county Florida in August 1992 (was re-evaluated and upgraded to category 5 intensity in 2002 by the Hurricane Reanalysis "HURDAT" Project of NOAA's Hurricane Research Division).

PW