In this video, we are talking about Hurricane Idalia and it’s upcoming rapid intensification. Live Hurricane Idalia Video & Updates. This storm will make landfall tomorrow a.m. at 8:30 Eastern.
Hurricanes, also known as tropical cyclones or typhoons in different regions, are classified into different categories based on their wind speeds and potential for damage. The most commonly used classification system is the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which categorizes hurricanes into five levels:
Category 1:
Wind Speed: 74-95 mph (119-153 km/h)
Effects: Minimal damage. Some damage to unanchored mobile homes, trees, and coastal flooding.
Category 2:
Wind Speed: 96-110 mph (154-177 km/h)
Effects: Moderate damage. Extensive damage to mobile homes, trees, and coastal flooding. Some small craft may be broken away from moorings.
Category 3:
Wind Speed: 111-129 mph (178-208 km/h)
Effects: Extensive damage. Devastation to mobile homes, trees, and coastal flooding. Many small structures near the coast may be destroyed. Large trees blown down.
Category 4:
Wind Speed: 130-156 mph (209-251 km/h)
Effects: Catastrophic damage. Loss of most of the roof structure and some exterior walls of well-constructed homes. Most trees snapped or uprooted. Power poles downed.
Category 5:
Wind Speed: 157 mph and higher (252 km/h and higher)
Effects: Catastrophic damage. 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.
It's important to note that the Saffir-Simpson scale is primarily focused on wind speed, but hurricanes can also cause significant damage through storm surge (the rise in sea level due to the storm's winds and low pressure), heavy rainfall, and flooding. As such, even lower-category hurricanes can have devastating impacts depending on factors like their size, forward speed, and the local geography.
As the sun sets on powerful developing #Idalia dangerous storm surge is heading north. The water will rise overnight and in the morning in many areas along Florida's west coast. Be safe all. pic.twitter.com/kgawvn5xj8
— Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) August 29, 2023
