Hurricane Terms to Know

Tropical Storm Watch - A Tropical Storm Watch is issued when tropical storm conditions (winds between 39 - 73 mph) are possible within 36 hours.

Tropical Storm Warning - Is issued when tropical storm conditions (winds between 39 - 73 mph) are expected in the warning area within 24 hours or less.

Hurricane Watch - Is issued when hurricane conditions (winds greater then 74 mph) threaten the watch area within 36 hours.

Hurricane Warning - a Hurricane Warning is issued when sustained winds of 74 mph or greater are expected in the warning area within 24 hours or less.

Did you know...

Our hurricane season, the Atlantic hurricane season, begins June 1 and ends November 30.

There are on average six Atlantic hurricanes each year; over a three-year period, approximately five hurricanes strike the United States coastline from Texas to Maine.

Rating Hurricanes: The Saffir-Simpson Scale

Category 1 - Winds of 74 - 95 mph: Damage is primarily to shrubbery, trees, mobile homes, and poorly constructed signs. Some low-lying coastal roads may be flooded.

Category 2 - Winds of 96 - 110 mph: Moderate damage to trees and shrubbery. Substantial damage to exposed mobile homes and street signs. Minor structural damage to doors, windows, roofs, and local piers. Low-lying areas usually flooded.

Category 3 - Winds of 111 - 130 mph: Signs and large trees are blown down. Major damage to mobile homes and piers. Serious flooding of low-lying areas will leave a substantial number of structures in those areas destroyed.

Category 4 - Winds of 131 - 155 mph: Trees, shrubs, and signs are blown down. Major damage to roofs, doors, and windows. Major flooding as far as six miles inland, resulting in major beach erosion and leaving most structures in the flood zone either heavily damaged or completely destroyed.

Category 5 - Winds greater then 155 mph: Catastrophic damage to most coastal areas as well as major damage to areas further inland. Low-lying cities completely destroyed.