Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale to be renamed the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale

 

The National Hurricane Center will rename the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

The hurricane scale was originally set up in the early 1970's to measure the intensities of  the maximum sustained winds in hurricanes.  Then it was later changed to include storm surge flooding.

But confusion among the public has increased since Hurricane Katrina impacted Louisiana, Mississippi and the Alabama Gulf Coasts in 2005 and the more recent,  Hurricane Ike's impact on the Texas Coast in 2008.

The confusion surrounds the storm surge flooding, created by the hurricanes.

Hurricane Katrina in 2005, upon impact along the Gulf Coasts, produced record storm surge (25 ft) on the scale of a Category 5 hurricane, but this hurricane was only rated a category 3 hurricane with winds of 111-130 mph.

Typical category 3 hurricane storm surge: 9-12 ft

Hurricane Ike in 2008, upon impact along the Texas Coast, produced storm surge (15-20 ft) on the scale of a Category 4-5 hurricane, but this hurricane was only rated a category 2 hurricane with winds of  96-110 mph.

Typical category 2 hurricane storm surge: 6-8 ft 

The concern is that the public is not heeding proper warnings, because the storm surges have not  always matched the levels predicted in each category.

For this reason, the National Hurricane Center is dropping storm surge flooding from its hurricane categories.

Storm surges are affected by a number of variables in addition to winds, including the shape of a coastline, water depth near the coastline, and storm size and structure.

All of those factors are separate from the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Storm surge and flooding information will continue to be included in National Weather Service advisories.

For more information: National Hurricane Center    Hurricane Katrina Report    Hurricane Preparedness