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Historical examples |
| Category |
Sustained wind speed |
Wind damage |
Gulf coast |
Atlantic coast |
| 1 |
74-95 mph |
Damaging winds expected |
Hurricane Cindy, 2005 |
Hurricane Gaston, 2004 |
| 2 |
96-110 mph |
Very strong winds producing
widespread damage |
Hurricane Erin, 1995 |
Hurricane Isabel, 2003 |
| 3 |
111-130 mph |
Dangerous winds causing
extensive damage |
Hurricane Rita, 2005 |
Hurricane Jeanne, 2004 |
| 4 |
131-155 mph |
Extremely dangerous winds
causing devastating damage |
Hurricane Charley, 2004 |
Hurricane Hugo, 1989 |
| 5 |
More than 155 mph |
Catastrophic damage expected |
Hurricane Camille, 1969 |
Hurricane Andrew, 1992 |
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Hurricane Center. |