Hurricane Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, as a Category 4 storm with 140 mph sustained winds and higher gusts.
It’s the strongest hurricane on record to slam into Florida’s Big Bend. Its ferocious winds and heavy rainfall can cause widespread power outages and flooding in the Southeast, where the ground is already saturated by the previous day’s storms.
But what do these categories mean?
Hurricanes are rated 1 through 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale based on their wind speed. Damage is exponential as wind speed increases, meaning a strong Category 3 storm could do up to 60 times as much damage as a weak Category 1 storm.
Here are the main risks you can expect with each category:
Category 1: 74-95 mph
Sustained winds are enough to blow shingles off roofs and damage gutters and vinyl siding. These winds also can uproot trees and bring down branches, causing power outages and more property damage. They can damage power lines, too.
Category 2: 96-110 mph
Winds this strong can cause as much as 20 times the damage as those of a Category 1 storm, including extensive damage to a home’s roof and siding.
Numerous trees and power lines will most likely be damaged, blocking roads, damaging property and knocking out power for days, if not weeks.
Category 3: 111-129 mph
Now in “major hurricane” territory, wind damage is much more widespread. Well-built homes and other buildings could suffer major damage, and roofs will sustain heavy damage. Numerous trees will be damaged or uprooted. Electricity and water could be shut off for several days.
Category 4: 130-156 mph
Catastrophic damage can result from these winds. Well-built homes will be heavily damaged, with most of the roof blown away. Trees and power lines will be down. Water and power services could be out for months, with the hardest-hit places uninhabitable for weeks.
Category 5: 157 mph or greater
These are the most powerful storms on Earth. Most well-built homes will be destroyed, and many will be stripped to the foundation. Power outages could last for months, and the areas hardest hit could be uninhabitable for months.