Limitations of the Saffir-Simpson scale

From category 1 to category 5, hurricane forecasters’ famous rating system has become ingrained in the minds of millions of Americans from Texas to Maine.

The scale — known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale — uses categories from 1 to 5 and is a rating based on the storm’s maximum sustained wind speed, which ranges from 74 to 157 mph, or higher. It remains popular, in part, because of its simplicity.

However, the scale has long been criticized for that simplicity, too. It does not take into account potentially deadly hurricane hazards such as storm surge, rainfall, flooding, and tornadoes. And this worries hurricane forecasters. – Full report