For the last few years, I have opined about the inadequacy of the Saffir — Simpson scale for conveying the full impacts of hurricanes. Harvey (2017), Milton (2024) and Helene (2024) are examples of ...

Georgia Tech expert Zachary Handlos joins a growing conversation about whether the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale adequately reflects the full range of hurricane hazards in a changing climate.

When you hear terms like Category 1, Category 3 or even the rare Category 5 mentioned regarding hurricanes, what is being discussed is the classification system for hurricanes based on their winds.

Hurricane Melissa is approaching Jamaica as a Category 5 storm with 180 mph winds. A recent study suggests global warming is fueling more intense and rapidly strengthening hurricanes. Scientists have ...

The current hurricane classification does not consider storm surge and rainfall risks, which cause almost 80% of hurricane-related deaths. A new scale could help people better prepare for storms. When ...

A University of South Florida researcher and a team from the Netherlands are proposing a new way to measure hurricane severity. Jennifer Collins had been studying evacuation patterns when she saw ...

Storm surge and rainfall — not wind — cause the majority of hurricane deaths, yet are absent from the current warning system. Researchers developed and tested the Tropical Cyclone Severity Scale, ...

The National Hurricane Center uses the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale to categorize hurricanes. Hurricanes are assigned Category 1-5 depending on their wind speeds. We break down the potential ...

Hurricane Melissa rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm, the third of the 2025 Atlantic season. This "rapid intensification," where storms quickly strengthen, is becoming more common due to ...