undefined | Here's what the hurricane categories mean

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, and storms are graded on the Saffir‑Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which assigns categories 1 through 5 based on sustained wind speeds. A “major” hurricane is any storm that reaches Category 3, 4, or 5, indicating a high potential for significant loss of life and damage. The 2025 season’s first storm, Hurricane Erin, surged to a Category 5 on Aug. 16 before weakening northward, producing dangerous waves and rip currents despite not making landfall.

Category 5 hurricanes have sustained winds of 157 mph or higher and cause catastrophic damage: most framed homes are destroyed, roofs collapse, power outages last weeks to months, and large areas become uninhabitable. Notable examples include 1992’s Hurricane Andrew, 2017’s Irma, and 1969’s Camille. Category 4 storms (130‑156 mph) also produce catastrophic damage, with severe roof loss and widespread power failures; Hurricane Harvey (2017) and Hurricane Ida (2021) are key cases. Category 3 hurricanes (111‑129 mph) bring devastating damage, such as major roof loss and extensive tree damage, exemplified by Hurricane Zeta (2020) and Hurricane Wilma (2005).

Categories 2 (96‑110 mph) and 1 (74‑95 mph) remain extremely dangerous, causing extensive roof and siding damage, snapped trees, and power outages lasting days to weeks; Hurricane Floyd (1999) and Hurricane Sandy (2012) illustrate these impacts. Although no official Category 6 exists, scientists have debated expanding the scale as storms grow stronger with climate change. Historical storms like Hurricane Katrina (2005), which peaked at Category 5 but hit land as a Category 3, and Hurricane Ian (2022), a Category 4 at landfall, underscore how the scale relates to real‑world devastation.

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#atlantichurricaneseason #saffir-simpsonhurricanewindscale #hurricaneerin

Upcoming El Niño may mean positive news for Atlantic hurricane season, forecast says

Colorado State University researchers release their preliminary Atlantic hurricane season forecast; leaning heavily on moderate El Niño conditions.

https://www.kxan.com/weather/weather-blog/first-atlantic-hurricane-season-forecast-released-by-csu/

#WeatherBlog #Austin #Local #News #Texas #TopStories #Weather #WeatherTrafficInDepth #AtlanticHurricaneSeason #ColoradoStateUniversity #ElNino

Hurricane Melissa looks like a solid 150 kt storm, the hunters ended their mission early and have reported severe turbulence likely from meso vorts within the storm.

#HurricaneMelissa #Melissa is an extremely dangerous #Category5 storm. The #AtlanticHurricaneSeason continues to be active.
Please share official information and check on those in the path of this major #TropicalCyclone.

Up to five major hurricanes, classified as category 3 or higher, are predicted to form in the Atlantic Ocean before the end of November, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/weather/2025/08/08/528353/national-weather-service-predicts-up-to-five-major-hurricanes-in-updated-forecast-for-2025-season/

#Houston #Hurricane #Local #News #Weather #2025HurricaneSeason #AtlanticHurricaneSeason #HoustonWeather #NationalOceanicAndAtmosphericAdministration #NationalWeatherService

So, remember a couple of weeks ago when I posted about visiting the #AtlanticOcean in #Maine, and the water was very warm? I was *not* imagining it!

#Atlantic #HurricaneSeason is almost here, and conditions are primed for 'rapid intensification'

How many hurricanes will there be this year? Will this season be worse than 2024? AccuWeather meteorologists have the answers to these questions and more ahead of the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season on June 1.

By Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and senior content editor
Published May 21, 2025

"One of the biggest factors for tropical development in 2025 is the abundance of warm water available to fuel storms. 'The water temperatures across most of the Atlantic are above average for this time of the year,' AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said. 'They're not quite as warm as what we saw last year and in 2023, but they're still well, well above average.'

"Waters are expected to stay warm throughout most of the hurricane season, which will prime storms for explosive development. "

https://www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane/atlantic-hurricane-season-is-almost-here-and-conditions-are-primed-for-rapid-intensification/1776532

#ClimateChange #WarmingOceans #AtlanticHurricaneSeason #HurricaneSeason2025 #USWx #ExtremeWx #WaterIsLife #OceansAreLife #AtlanticOcean #GlobalWarming

Ahead of an Atlantic hurricane season predicted to be more active than average, a survey conducted by Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research found that few residents of the region feel "very well-prepared" for the next disaster.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/hurricane/2025/05/13/521136/few-houston-residents-feel-well-prepared-for-a-disaster-as-hurricane-season-approaches-rice-survey-finds/

#HarrisCounty #HelloHouston #Houston #Hurricane #HurricaneSeason #Local #News #Weather #2025HurricaneSeason #AtlanticHurricaneSeason #ColoradoStateUniversity #Disaster #RiceUniversitySKinderInstituteForUrbanResearch

Fort Bend County partnered with Clear Channel Outdoor to post a digital billboard in Stafford with a countdown to the Atlantic hurricane season, which spans from June through November.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/fort-bend/2025/05/07/520767/fort-bend-leaders-launch-emergency-information-billboard-ahead-of-active-hurricane-season/

#FortBend #Hurricane #Local #News #Weather #2025HurricaneSeason #AtlanticHurricaneSeason #ClearChannelOutdoor #FortBendCounty #FortBendJudgeKPGeorge