Tropical cyclone

scales

Tropical cyclones are ranked on one of five

tropical cyclone intensity scales,
according to their maximum sustained
winds and which tropical cyclone basin(s)
they are located in. Only a few scales of
classifications are used officially by the
meteorological agencies monitoring the
tropical cyclones, but some alternative
scales also exist, such as accumulated
cyclone energy, the Power Dissipation
Index, the Integrated Kinetic Energy Index,
and the Hurricane Severity Index.

Tropical cyclones that develop in the

Northern Hemisphere are unofficially
classified by the warning centres on one of
three intensity scales. Tropical cyclones or
subtropical cyclones that exist within the
North Atlantic Ocean or the North-eastern
Pacific Ocean are classified as either
tropical depressions or tropical storms.
Should a system intensify further and
become a hurricane, then it will be
classified on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane
wind scale, and is based on the estimated
maximum sustained winds over a 1-
minute period. In the Western Pacific, the
ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee uses
four separate classifications for tropical
cyclones that exist within the basin, which
are based on the estimated maximum
sustained winds over a 10-minute period.

The India Meteorological Department's

scale uses 7 different classifications for
systems within the North Indian Ocean,
and are based on the systems estimated
3-minute maximum sustained winds.
Tropical cyclones that develop in the
Southern Hemisphere are only officially
classified by the warning centres on one of
two scales, which are both based on 10-
minute sustained wind speeds: The
Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale
is used to classify systems within the
Australian or South Pacific tropical cyclone
basin. The scale used to classify systems
in the South-West Indian Ocean is defined
by Meteo France for use in various French
territories, including New Caledonia and
French Polynesia.

The definition of sustained winds

recommended by the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO) and
used by most weather agencies is that of a
10-minute average at a height of 10 m
(33 ft) above the sea surface. However, the
Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale is based
on wind speed measurements averaged
over a 1-minute period, at 10 m (33 ft). The
scale used by RSMC New Delhi applies a
3-minute averaging period, and the
Australian scale is based on both 3-
second wind gusts and maximum
sustained winds averaged over a 10-
minute interval. These differences make
direct comparisons between basins
difficult.

Within all basins tropical cyclones are

named when the sustained winds reach at
least 35 kn (40 mph; 65 km/h).
Background
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Tropical cyclones are defined as being

warm cored, non-frontal synoptic cyclones,
that develop over tropical or subtropical
waters, with organized atmospheric
convection and have a definite cyclonic
surface wind circulation. They are
classified by the wind speeds located
around the circulation centre and are
ranked, by the World Meteorological
Organization's Regional Specialized
Meteorological Centers on one of five
tropical cyclone scales. The scale used for
a particular tropical cyclone depends on
what basin the system is located in; with
for example the Saffir–Simpson hurricane
wind scale and the Australian tropical
cyclone intensity scales both used in the
Western Hemisphere. All of the scales
rank tropical cyclones using their
maximum sustained winds, which are
either observed, measured or estimated
using various techniques, over a period
between one and ten minutes.

Atlantic, Eastern and Central

Pacific
 Saffir–Simpson scale
Wind spe
Category (for 1-minute maximum
m/s knots (kn)
Five ≥ 70 m/s   ≥ 137 kn   ≥
Four   58–70 m/s    113–136 kn    130–
Three   50–58 m/s     96–112 kn    111–
Two   43–49 m/s     83–95 kn     96–
One   33–42 m/s     64–82 kn     74

Related classifications
(for 1-minute maximum sustained winds)
Tropical
  18–32 m/s    34–63 kn    39–7
storm
Tropical
  ≤ 17 m/s     ≤ 33 kn    ≤3
depression
Tropical cyclones that occur within the
Northern Hemisphere to the east of the
anti-meridian, are officially monitored by
either the National Hurricane Center or the
Central Pacific Hurricane Center.[1] Within
the region a tropical cyclone is defined to
be a warm cored, non-frontal synoptic
disturbance, that develops over tropical or
subtropical waters, with organized
atmospheric convection and a closed well
defined circulation centre.[1] The region
also defines a subtropical cyclone as a
non-frontal low pressure disturbance, that
has the characteristics of both tropical and
extratropical cyclones.[1] Once either of
these classifications are met, then
advisories are initiated and the warning
centers will classify the system as either a
tropical or subtropical depression, if the
one-minute sustained winds estimated or
measured as less than 34 kn (38 mph;
62 km/h).[1]

Also, it will be assigned a tropical cyclone

number (or TC number for short)
comprising an officially spelled-out
number (from ONE to THIRTY or less;
these numbers are not recycled until next
year) followed by (except for North
Atlantic systems) a hyphen and a suffix
letter ("-E" for East Pacific, "-C" for Central
Pacific);[2] a two-digit (plus any suffix)
abbreviation (like TD 08 for North Atlantic
depression EIGHT, TD 21E for East Pacific
depression TWENTYONE-E, or TD 03C for
Central Pacific depression THREE-C) is
also generated for bulletin and other
automated purposes.

However, if a tropical disturbance is

capable of producing tropical storm or
hurricane conditions on land within 48
hours, then advisories will be initiated and
it will be classified as a potential tropical
cyclone (PTC)[1] with a two-digit PTC
number (for example, PTC-09 or PTC-15E)
that otherwise looks identical to a TC
number. Should the system intensify
further or already have one-minute
sustained winds of 34–63 kn (39–73 mph;
63–118 km/h), then it will be called either
a tropical or subtropical storm and
assigned a name[1] (which replaces the
spelled-out TC number; the two-digit
number is still kept for purposes like the
Automated Tropical Cyclone Forecasting
System, as in 2018's TS 12 (KIRK)).

Should the tropical system further

intensify and have winds estimated or
measured, as greater than 64 kn (74 mph;
119 km/h), then it will be called a
hurricane and classified on the Saffir–
Simpson hurricane wind scale.[1] The
lowest classification on the SSHWS is a
Category 1 hurricane, which has winds of
between 64 and 82 kn (74–95 mph, 119–
153 km/h).[1][3] Should the hurricane
intensify further then it will be rated as a
Category 2 hurricane, if it has winds of
between 83 and 95 kn (96–110 mph, 154–
177 km/h).[1][3] When a system becomes a
Category 3 hurricane with winds of
between 96 and 112 kn (111–129 mph,
178–208 km/h), it is considered to be a
major hurricane by the warning centers.[3]
A Category 4 hurricane has winds of 113–
136 kn (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h),
while a Category 5 hurricane has winds of
at least 137 kn (157 mph, 252 km/h).[1][3] A
post tropical cyclone is a system that has
weakened, into a remnant low or has
dissipated and formal advisories are
usually discontinued at this stage.[1]
However, advisories may continue if the
post tropical cyclone poses a significant
threat to life and property.[1] They may also
continue if the remnants of the system
have a chance of regeneration and
producing tropical storm or hurricane-
force winds over land within 48 hours.[1]

The SSHS was originally created using

both wind speed and storm surge, but
since the relationship between wind speed
and storm surge is not necessarily definite,
the scale was changed to the "Saffir–
Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale" (SSHWS),
based entirely on wind speed.

Although increasing echelons of the scale

correspond to stronger winds, the rankings
are not absolute in terms of effects.
Lower-category storms can inflict greater
damage than higher-category storms,
depending on factors such as local terrain,
population density and total rainfall. For
instance, a Category 2 hurricane that
strikes a major urban area will likely do
more damage than a large Category 5
hurricane that strikes a mostly rural region.
In fact, tropical systems of less than
hurricane strength can produce significant
damage and human casualties, especially
from flooding and landslides.

Historically, the term great hurricane was

used to describe storms that possessed
winds of at least 110 kn (125 mph;
200 km/h), large radii (over 160 km /
100 mi) and that caused large amounts of
destruction. This term fell into disuse after
the introduction of the Saffir–Simpson
scale in the early 1970s.[4]

A minor change to the scale was made

ahead of the 2012 hurricane season, with
the wind speeds for Categories 3–5
tweaked to eliminate the rounding errors
that had occurred during previous
seasons, when a hurricane had wind
speeds of 115 kn (130 mph; 215 km/h).[5]

Western Pacific
ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee's
Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale
Category Sustained winds
≥64 knots
Typhoon
≥118 km/h
48–63 knots
Severe Tropical Storm
89–117 km/h
34–47 knots
Tropical Storm
62–88 km/h
≤33 knots
Tropical Depression
≤61 km/h

Tropical cyclones that occur within the

Northern Hemisphere between the anti-
meridian and 100°E are officially
monitored by the Japan Meteorological
Agency (JMA, RSMC Tokyo).[6] Within the
region a tropical cyclone is defined to be a
non-frontal synoptic scale cyclone
originating over tropical or sub-tropical
waters, with organized convection and a
definite cyclonic surface wind
circulation.[6] The lowest classification
used by the Typhoon Committee is a
tropical depression, which has 10-minute
sustained winds of less than 34 kn
(17 m/s; 39 mph; 63 km/h).[6] Should the
tropical depression intensify further it is
named and classified as a tropical storm,
which has winds speeds between 34–
47 kn (17–24 m/s; 39–54 mph; 63–
87 km/h).[6] Should the system continue to
intensify further then it will be classified as
a severe tropical storm, which has winds
speeds between 48–63 kn (25–32 m/s;
55–72 mph; 89–117 km/h).[6] The highest
classification on the Typhoon Committee's
scale is a typhoon, which has winds
speeds greater than 64 kn (33 m/s;
74 mph; 119 km/h).[6]

The China Meteorological Administration,

the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO),
PAGASA and the JMA, all divide the
typhoon category further for domestic
purposes.[6] The JMA divides the typhoon
category into three categories, with a 10-
minute maximum wind speed below 84 kn
(43 m/s; 97 mph; 156 km/h) assigned for
the (strong) typhoon category. A very
strong typhoon has wind speeds between
85–104 kn (44–54 m/s; 98–120 mph;
157–193 km/h), while a violent typhoon
has wind speeds of 105 kn (54 m/s;
121 mph; 194 km/h) or greater.[6] The HKO
and the CMA also divide the typhoon
category into three categories, with both
assigning a maximum wind speed of 80 kn
(41 m/s; 92 mph; 150 km/h) to the
typhoon category. A severe typhoon has
wind speeds of 85–104 kn (44–54 m/s;
98–120 mph; 157–193 km/h), while a
super typhoon has winds of 100 kn
(51 m/s; 120 mph; 190 km/h).[6][7] In May
2015, PAGASA introduced the term Super
Typhoon and used it for systems with
winds greater than 120 kn (62 m/s;
140 mph; 220 km/h).[8]

In addition to the national meteorological

services of each nation, the United States'
Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)
monitors the basin, and issues warnings
on significant tropical cyclones for the
United States Government,[9] assigning
them two-digit TC numbers (with suffix
"W").[2] These warnings use a 1-minute
sustained wind speed and can be
compared to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane
wind scale; however, the JTWC uses their
own scale for intensity classifications in
this basin.[10] These classifications are
Tropical Depression, Tropical Storm,
Typhoon, and Super Typhoon.[10] The
United States' Joint Typhoon Warning
Center (JTWC) unofficially classifies
typhoons with wind speeds of at least
130 knots (67 m/s; 150 mph; 241 km/h)—
the equivalent of a strong Category 4
storm on the Saffir–Simpson scale—as
super typhoons.[11] Also, when a tropical
depression is upgraded to tropical storm
and named by the JMA, the JTWC
appends the international name
(parenthesized) to its TC number[2] (i.e.,
2018 tropical depression TWENTY-W, abbr.
TD 20W, became tropical storm Bebinca,
but was referred to as TS 20W (BEBINCA)
in JTWC advisories); however, in cases
when the JTWC upgrades a depression to
tropical storm without the JMA following
suit (due to the differences between JTWC
and JMA wind-speed scales), the spelled-
out number (without the suffix) is
parenthesized and appended to the TC
number as placeholder name, as in TS
16W (SIXTEEN), until JMA upgrades and
names it, on which case the name
replaces the placeholder.[10]

In addition, the Taiwan Central Weather

Bureau has its own scale in Chinese but
uses the Typhoon Committee scale in
English.[12]

North Indian Ocean

India Meteorological Department
Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale
Sustained winds
Category
(3-min average)
≥120 kt
Super Cyclonic Storm
≥221 km/h
Extremely Severe 90–119 kt
Cyclonic Storm 166–220 km/h
Very Severe 64–89 kt
Cyclonic Storm 118–165 km/h
Severe Cyclonic 48–63 kt
Storm 89–117 km/h
34–47 kt
Cyclonic Storm
63–88 km/h
Deep Depression 28–33 kt
 51–62 km/h
17–27 kt
Depression
31–50 km/h

Any tropical cyclone that develops within

the North Indian Ocean between 100°E
and 45°E is monitored by the India
Meteorological Department (IMD, RSMC
New Delhi).[13] Within the region a tropical
cyclone is defined as being a non frontal
synoptic scale cyclone, that originates
over tropical or subtropical waters with
organized convection and a definite
cyclonic surface wind circulation.[13] The
lowest official classification used in the
North Indian Ocean is a Depression, which
has 3-minute sustained wind speeds of
between 17 and 27 kn (20–31 mph; 31–
49 km/h).[13] Should the depression
intensify further then it will become a Deep
Depression, which has winds between 28
and 33 kn (32–38 mph; 50–61 km/h).[13]
The system will be classified as a cyclonic
storm and assigned a name by the IMD, if
it should develop gale-force wind speeds
of between 34 and 47 kn (39–54 mph; 62–
88 km/h).[13] Severe Cyclonic Storms have
storm force wind speeds of between 48
and 63 kn (55–72 mph; 89–117 km/h),
while Very Severe Cyclonic Storms have
hurricane-force winds of 64–89 kn (73–
102 mph; 118–166 km/h). Extremely
Severe Cyclonic Storms have hurricane-
force winds of 90–119 kn (166–221 km/h,
104–137 mph).[13] The highest
classification used in the North Indian
Ocean is a Super Cyclonic Storm, which
have hurricane-force winds of above
120 kn (138 mph; 222 km/h).[13]

Historically, a system has been classified

as a depression if it is an area where the
barometric pressure is low compared with
its surroundings.[14] Other classifications
historically used include: cyclonic storm
where the winds did not exceed force 10
on the Beaufort scale and a Cyclone where
the winds are either force 11 and 12 on the
Beaufort scale.[14] Between 1924 and
1988, tropical cyclones were classified into
four categories: depression, deep
depression, cyclonic storms and severe
cyclonic storms.[14] However, a change
was made during 1988 to introduce the
category "severe cyclonic storm with core
of hurricane winds" for tropical cyclones,
with wind speeds of more than 64 kn
(74 mph; 119 km/h).[14] During 1999 the
categories Very Severe Cyclonic Storm and
Super Cyclonic Storm were introduced,
while the severe cyclonic storm with a core
of hurricane winds category was
eliminated.[14] During 2015 another
modification to the intensity scale took
place, with the IMD calling a system with
3-minute maximum sustained wind
speeds between 90 and 119 kn (166–
221 km/h, 104–137 mph): an extremely
severe cyclonic storm.[15]

The United States Joint Typhoon Warning

Center also monitors the basin, and issues
warnings on significant tropical cyclones
on behalf of the United States
Government,[9] also assigning them TC
numbers as in all other basins above
(albeit in an unofficial manner for this and
subsequent basins; cyclones originating in
the Arabian Sea are assigned suffix "A"
while those in the Bay of Bengal get suffix
"B"). These warnings use a 1-minute
sustained wind speed and can be
compared to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane
wind scale, however, regardless of
intensity in this basin the JTWC labels all
systems as tropical cyclones with TC
numbers (optionally appended with
international names or placeholders in
parentheses, as done for typhoons
above).[10]

South-West Indian Ocean

Southwest Indian Ocean
Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale
Category Sustained winds
Very Intense >115 kt
Tropical Cyclone >212 km/h
Intense 90–115 kt
Tropical Cyclone 166–212 km/h
64–89 kt
Tropical Cyclone
118–165 km/h
Severe 48–63 kt
Tropical Storm 89–117 km/h
Moderate 34–47 kt
Tropical Storm 63–88 km/h
Tropical 28–33 kt
Depression 51–62 km/h
 Tropical <28 kt
Disturbance <50 km/h

Any tropical cyclone that develops within

the Southern Hemisphere between Africa
and 90°E is monitored by Meteo France's
La Reunion tropical cyclone centre (MFR,
RSMC La Reunion).[16] Within the region a
tropical disturbance is defined to be a non-
frontal synoptic scale low pressure area,
originating over tropical or sub-tropical
waters with organized convection and
definite cyclonic surface wind circulation
with the average wind speed estimated to
be not exceeding 27 knots (50 km/h)).
A tropical disturbance is MFR's generic
term for a non-frontal area of low pressure
that has organized convection and definite
cyclonic surface wind circulation.[16] The
system should be estimated to have wind
speeds of less than 28 knots (50 km/h,
32 mph).[16]

A system is designated as a tropical

depression or a subtropical depression
when it reaches wind speeds above
28 knots (50 km/h, 32 mph). Should a
tropical depression reach wind speeds of
35 knots (65 km/h, 40 mph) then it will be
classified as a moderate tropical storm
and assigned a name by either the Sub
Regional Center in Mauritius or
Madagascar. No matter how strong a
subtropical system is in this basin, it is
always designated as a subtropical
depression.[17]

Should the named storm intensify further

and reach winds speeds of 48 knots
(89 km/h, 55 mph), then it will be classified
as a severe tropical storm.[17] A severe
tropical storm is designated as a tropical
cyclone when it reaches wind speeds of
64 knots (118 km/h, 74 mph).[16] Should a
tropical cyclone intensify further and reach
wind speeds of 90 knots (166 km/h,
103 mph), it will be classified as an intense
tropical cyclone.[16] A very intense tropical
cyclone is the highest category on the
South-West Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone
scale, and has winds of over 115 knots
(212 km/h, 132 mph).[17]

At the tenth RA I tropical cyclone

committee held during 1991, it was
recommended that the intensity
classifications be changed ahead of the
1993–94 tropical cyclone season.[18]
Specifically it was decided that the
classifications: Weak Tropical Depression,
Moderate Tropical Depression and Severe
Tropical Depression would be changed to
Tropical Depression, Moderate Tropical
Storm and Severe Tropical Storm.[18] This
change was implemented ahead of the
1993–94 tropical cyclone season.[18]

The United States Joint Typhoon Warning

Center also monitors the basin, and issues
warnings on significant tropical cyclones
on behalf of the United States
Government;[9] these systems are
unofficially assigned TC numbers with
suffix "S" (which spans the whole South
Indian Ocean, including both BMKG and
BoM areas of responsibility west of
135°E). These warnings use a 1-minute
sustained wind speed and can be
compared to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane
wind scale, however, regardless of
intensity in this basin the JTWC labels all
systems as tropical cyclones with TC
numbers (plus any parenthesized names
or placeholders, like typhoons and North
Indian Ocean cyclones above).[10]

Australia and Fiji

Australian tropical cyclone
intensity scale
Sustained
Category Gusts
winds
>107 kt >151 kt
Five
>198 km/h >280 km/h
86–107 kt 122–151 kt
Four
158–198 km/h 226–280 km/h
64–85 kt 90–121 kt
Three
118–157 km/h 167–225 km/h
48–63 kt 68–89 kt
Two
89–117 km/h 126–166 km/h
34–47 kt 49–67 kt
One
63–88 km/h 91–125 km/h
Tropical cyclones that occur within the
Southern Hemisphere to the east of 90°E
are officially monitored by one or more
tropical cyclone warning centres.[19] These
are run by the Fiji Meteorological Service,
New Zealand's MetService, Indonesia's
Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan
Geofisika, Papua New Guinea's National
Weather Service and the Australian Bureau
of Meteorology.[19] Within the region a
tropical cyclone is defined as being a non-
frontal low pressure system of synoptic
scale that develops over warm waters,
with a definite organized wind circulation
and 10-minute sustained wind speeds of
34 kn (63 km/h; 39 mph) or greater near
the centre.[19] Once this definition has
been met then all of the centres name the
system and start to use the Australian
tropical cyclone intensity scale, which
measures tropical cyclones using a five
category system based on 10-minute
maximum sustained winds.[19][20] A
Category 1 tropical cyclone is estimated to
have 10-minute sustained wind speeds of
34–47 kn (39–54 mph; 63–87 km/h),
while a Category 2 tropical cyclone is
estimated to have 10-minute sustained
wind speeds of 48–63 kn (55–72 mph;
89–117 km/h).[20][21] When a system
becomes a Category 3 tropical cyclone it
is reclassified as a Severe tropical cyclone
and has wind speeds of 64–85 kn (74–
98 mph; 119–157 km/h).[20][21] A Category
4 severe tropical cyclone has winds of 86–
110 kn (99–130 mph; 157–200 km/h),
while the maximum rating is a Category 5
severe tropical cyclone, which has winds
of at least 108 kn (124 mph;
200 km/h).[20][21]

For systems below tropical cyclone

strength there are various terms used,
including Tropical Disturbance, Tropical
Low and Tropical Depression.[19] A tropical
disturbance is defined as being a non-
frontal system of synoptic scale
originating over the tropics, with persistent
enhanced convection and/or some
indication of a circulation.[19] A tropical
depression or tropical low is a disturbance
with a defined circulation, where the
central position can be estimated, and the
maximum 10-minute average wind speed
is less than 34 kn (39 mph; 63 km/h) near
the centre.[19] The FMS numbers these
systems when they have a potential to
develop into a tropical cyclone or persist
to cause significant impact to life and
property, within its area of responsibility
and have been analysed for the previous
24 hours.[19] The Australian tropical
cyclone intensity scale was introduced by
the BoM, ahead of the 1989–90 cyclone
season.

The United States Joint Typhoon Warning

Center also monitors the basin, and issues
warnings on significant tropical cyclones
on behalf of the United States
Government;[9] these systems are
unofficially assigned TC numbers with
either suffix "S" (if originating west of
135°E; spans the whole South Indian
Ocean, including MFR's area of
responsibility) or suffix "P" (if east of
135°E; spans the whole South Pacific
Ocean, merging BoM, PNG-NWS, FMS, and
MSNZ AORs together). These warnings
use a 1-minute sustained wind speed and
can be compared to the Saffir–Simpson
hurricane wind scale, however, regardless
of intensity in these basins the JTWC
labels all systems as tropical cyclones
with TC numbers (plus any names or
placeholders parenthesized, as for
typhoons and Indian Ocean cyclones
above).[10]

Alternative scales
There are other scales that are not
officially used by any of the Regional
Specialized Meteorological Centres or the
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres.
However they are used by other
organizations, such as the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
An example of such scale is the Integrated
Kinetic Energy index, which measures the
destructive potential of the storm surge on
the coast; it works on a scale that ranges
from one to six, with six having the highest
destructive potential.[22]

Accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) is used

by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and other agencies to
express the activity of individual tropical
cyclones that are above tropical storm
strength and entire tropical cyclone
seasons.[23] It is calculated by taking the
squares of the estimated maximum
sustained velocity of every active tropical
storm (wind speed 35 knots or higher) at
six-hour intervals.[23] The numbers are
usually divided by 10,000 to make them
more manageable. The unit of ACE is 104
kn2, and for use as an index the unit is
assumed.[23] As well as being squared for
ACE, wind speed can also be cubed, which
is referred to as the Power Dissipation
Index (PDI).[24]

The Hurricane Severity Index (HSI) is

another scale used and rates the severity
of all types of tropical and subtropical
cyclones based on both the intensity and
the size of their wind fields.[25] The HSI is a
0 to 50 point scale, allotting up to 25
points for a tropical cyclone's intensity and
up to 25 points for wind field size.[25]
Points are awarded on a sliding scale, with
the majority of points reserved for
hurricane force and greater wind fields.[25]

Comparisons across basins

The terminology for tropical cyclones
differs from one region to another. Below
is a summary of the classifications used
by the official warning centres worldwide.
NHC, CPHC and JTWC use 1-minute
sustained winds, the IMD uses 3-minute
sustained winds (not shown below) while
all other warning centers use 10-minute
sustained winds.
 1-minute sustained
Beaufort 10-minute sus
winds
scale (WMO/JMA/M
(NHC/CPHC/JTWC)

<32 knots (37 mph; <28 knots

0–7
59 km/h) 52 km

33 knots (38 mph; 28–29 knots (

7
61 km/h) 52–54 

34–37 knots (39–

30–33 knots (
8 43 mph; 63–
56–61 
69 km/h)

38–54 knots (44–

34–47 knots (
9–10 62 mph; 70–
63–87 
100 km/h)

11 55–63 knots (63– 48–55 knots (

 72 mph; 102– 89–102
117 km/h)

12+ 64–71 knots (74–

56–63 knots (
82 mph; 119–
104–117
131 km/h)

72–82 knots (83–

64–72 knots (
94 mph; 133–
119–133
152 km/h)

83–95 knots (96–

73–83 knots (
109 mph; 154–
135–154
176 km/h)

96–97 knots (110–

84–85 knots (
112 mph; 178–
156–157
180 km/h)

98–112 knots 86–98 knots (9

(113–129 mph; 159–181
 181–207 km/h)

113–122 knots
99–107 kn
(130–140 mph;
123 mph; 183
209–226 km/h)

123–129 knots
108–113 kn
(142–148 mph;
130 mph; 200
228–239 km/h)

130–136 knots
114–119 kn
(150–157 mph;
137 mph; 211
241–252 km/h)

>136 knots
>120 knots
(157 mph;
222 km
252 km/h)

See also
 Rapid intensification
Tropical cyclone naming

References
1. RA IV Hurricane Committee. Regional
Association IV Hurricane Operational
Plan 2017 (PDF) (Report). World
Meteorological Organization.
Retrieved June 29, 2017.
2. National Hurricane Operations Plan
(PDF) (Report). Office of the Federal
Coordinator for Meteorological
Services and Supporting Research.
May 2017. Retrieved October 14,
2018.
3. "Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale
Information" . National Hurricane
Center. May 24, 2013. Retrieved
November 8, 2015.
4. Fred Doehring; Iver W. Duedall; John
M. Williams (1994). "Florida
Hurricanes and Tropical Storms:
1871–1993: An Historical Survey"
(PDF). Florida Institute of Technology.
pp. 53–54. Archived from the original
(PDF) on September 22, 2012.
Retrieved December 26, 2008.
5. Tew, Mark (March 1, 2012). "Public
Information Statement: Minor
Modification of Saffir–Simpson
 Hurricane Wind Scale Thresholds
Effective May 15, 2012" . United
States National Weather Service.
Archived from the original on
November 7, 2015. Retrieved
November 7, 2015.
6. Typhoon Committee (2015). Typhoon
Committee Operational Manual 2015
(PDF) (Report). World Meteorological
Organization. Retrieved November 13,
2015.
7. "Classifications of Tropical cyclones"
(PDF). Hong Kong Observatory. March
18, 2009. Archived from the original
 (PDF) on September 22, 2012.
Retrieved July 27, 2012.
8. Cervantes, Ding (May 16, 2015).
"Pagasa bares 5 new storm
categories" . ABS-CBN. Retrieved
May 20, 2015.
9. "Products and Services Notice" . Pearl
Harbour, Hawaii: Joint Typhoon
Warning Center.
10. "Frequently Asked Questions" . Pearl
Harbour, Hawaii: Joint Typhoon
Warning Center.
11. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (March
31, 2008). "What are the description
labels used with tropical cyclones by
 JTWC?" . Joint Typhoon Warning
Center – Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ). Retrieved December 22, 2008.
12. 交通部中央氣象局 (February 1, 2008).
"特輯" . www.cwb.gov.tw.
13. WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical
Cyclones (June 8, 2015). Tropical
Cyclone Operational Plan for the Bay
of Bengal and the Arabian Sea 2015
(PDF) (Report No. TCP-21). World
Meteorological Organization. pp. 11–
12. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
14. Best track data of tropical cyclonic
disturbances over the north Indian
Ocean (PDF) (Report). India
 Meteorological Department. July 14,
2009. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
15. Final report on the Third Joint Session
of Panel on Tropical Cyclones &
Typhoon Committee February 9–13,
2015 (PDF). Bangkok, Thailand. p. 10.
Archived (PDF) from the original on
November 6, 2015.
16. "Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for
the South West Indian Ocean 2006"
(PDF). World Meteorological
Organization. 2006. Retrieved July 3,
2008.
17. "Tableau de définition des cyclones"
(in French). Météo-France. 2008.
 Archived from the original on January
23, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
18. Le Goff, Guy (ed.). Cyclone Season
1992–1993 (PDF). RSMC La Reunion.
Meteo-France. pp. 105–106. Retrieved
November 7, 2015.
19. RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee
(October 8, 2020). Tropical Cyclone
Operational Plan for the South-East
Indian Ocean and the Southern Pacific
Ocean 2020 (PDF) (Report). World
Meteorological Organization. pp. I-4–
II-9 (9–21). Archived from the original
on October 12, 2020. Retrieved
October 10, 2020.
20. Tropical cyclone alerts and warnings
summary of procedures within Fiji:
2009–2010 season (PDF) (Report).
Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived
from the original (PDF) on November
7, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
21. "Tropical Cyclone: Frequently Asked
Questions" . Australian Bureau of
Meteorology. Retrieved November 7,
2015.
22. "Integrated Kinetic Energy" . Atlantic
Oceanographic and Meteorological
Laboratory. National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration. February
7, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
23. Tropical Cyclone Weather Services
Program (June 1, 2009). "Background
Information: The North Atlantic
Hurricane Season" . National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration.
Archived from the original (PDF) on
January 18, 2008. Retrieved
January 16, 2008.
24. Kerry Emanuel (August 4, 2005).
"Increasing destructiveness of tropical
cyclones over the past 30 years"
(PDF). Nature. 436 (7051): 686–8.
Bibcode:2005Natur.436..686E .
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25. "Background Information: The North
Atlantic Hurricane Season" . American
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Association IV Hurricane Operational
Plan 2019 (PDF) (Report). World
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Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for
the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea
 2018 (PDF) (Report No. TCP-21).
World Meteorological Organization.
pp. 11–12. Retrieved July 2, 2019.

External links
Australian Bureau of Meteorology -
Understanding tropical cyclone
categories
Regional Specialized Meteorological
Centres
US National Hurricane Center  – North
Atlantic, Eastern Pacific
Central Pacific Hurricane Center  –
Central Pacific
Japan Meteorological Agency  – NW
Pacific
India Meteorological Department  – Bay
of Bengal and the Arabian Sea
Météo-France – La Reunion  – South
Indian Ocean from 30°E to 90°E
Fiji Meteorological Service  – South
Pacific west of 160°E, north of 25° S
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres
Indonesian Meteorological
Department  – South Indian Ocean from
90°E to 125°E, north of 10°S
Australian Bureau of Meteorology . –
South Indian Ocean & South Pacific
Ocean from 90°E to 160°E, south of 10°S
 Meteorological Service of New Zealand
Limited  – South Pacific west of 160°E,
south of 25°S

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