**** Info via Environment Canada
What do hurricane categories mean?
Hurricanes are categorized based on wind speed using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which classifies hurricanes in five categories, with categories 3,4, and 5 being major hurricanes.
- occur.
- Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
Category 5: sustained winds of greater than 249 km/h (135 knots).
- 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.
It’s important to note that the Saffir-Simpson Scale was originally designed for tropical environments, and in Canada, we’ve observed that the scale’s assessment of damage can sometimes vary, particularly in relation to vegetation. For instance, during Hurricane Juan in 2003, categorized as a level 2 storm, the tree damage experienced was more akin to that of a level 3 storm. So, while the scale offers a useful guideline, real-world outcomes can sometimes vary from the charted expectations. This scale also does not consider other potentially deadly hazards such as storm surge, rainfall flooding, and tornadoes.
In 2003, Juan stood as one of the most powerful category 2 hurricanes to make landfall in Canada, similar in intensity to Hurricane Ginny in 1963 and Severe Post-Tropical Storm Fiona in 2022, based on their top wind speeds. Category 3 hurricanes or higher have never been documented on land in Canada.
Jubilee Road in Halifax, Nova Scotia, after the passage of Juan. Credit: Pete Young.
Current hurricane status
This season, 23 tropical storms have developed in the Atlantic Ocean. The latest tropical storm Sean, formed on October 11, after a brief lull in activity. It has since transitioned into a post-tropical storm that is expected to weaken before eventually dissipate.
For more on hurricanes: Frequently asked questions.
