Here's what the hurricane categories mean

U.S. What are the hurricane categories and what do they mean? Here's a breakdown of the scale and wind speeds Updated on: August 18, 2025 / 8:30 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. Hurricanes are rated on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which includes five categories based on the storm's sustained wind speeds. It also estimates possible damage to property, ranging from "some damage" to "catastrophic." The first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, Hurricane Erin, rapidly intensified to a fierce Category 5 on Aug. 16 before weakening as it moved northward. It did not make direct landfall but caused dangerous waves and rip currents.What is a "major hurricane?"If a storm is a Category 3, 4 or 5, it is deemed a "major" hurricane due to the potential for "significant loss of life and damage," the National Hurricane Center says. Hurricanes that fall into categories 1 or 2 are still considered dangerous, the center says. What are the categories of hurricanes and what do they mean?Here is how the scale breaks down, according to the National Hurricane Center, starting with a look at the most powerful:Category 5Sustained wind speed of 157 mph or higher  "Catastrophic damage will occur: A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months," the National Hurricane Center says. Notable storms: Category 5 storms include 1992's Hurricane Andrew, the most destructive storm to ever hit Florida; 2017's Irma, which devastated Barbuda, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Anguilla, and the Virgin Islands as a Category 5 before it surpassed Andrew as the costliest hurricane to ever hit Florida when it made landfall there as a Category 4; and 1969's Camill...