Definitions for "Saffir-Simpson Scale"
A scale in which a hurricane's strength is determined by it's potential damage. The scale ranks from Category 1 (minimal damage, 74-95mph) to a Category 5 (Catastropic, 155mph). Unlike tornadoes, a hurricane's category fluctuates throughout its life cycle . For a landfalling hurricane, the landfalling category is finalized many months later in a report by the National Hurricane Center after inspections of damage.
Subject: The Earth A scale relating a hurricane's central pressure and winds to the possible damage it is capable of inflicting.[ Pics List
A rating scale used to classify the strength of hurricanes, by relating the central pressure of the hurricane to the amount of damage that it could produce.