<P> The Saffir -- Simpson hurricane wind scale ( SSHWS ) , formerly the Saffir -- Simpson hurricane scale ( SSHS ) , classifies hurricanes -- Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms -- into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds . To be classified as a hurricane , a tropical cyclone must have maximum sustained winds of at least 74 mph ( 33 m / s ; 64 kn ; 119 km / h ) ( Category 1 ) . The highest classification in the scale , Category 5 , consists of storms with sustained winds exceeding 156 mph ( 70 m / s ; 136 kn ; 251 km / h ) . </P>
<P> The Saffir -- Simpson hurricane wind scale ( SSHWS ) , formerly the Saffir -- Simpson hurricane scale ( SSHS ) , classifies hurricanes -- Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms -- into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds . To be classified as a hurricane , a tropical cyclone must have maximum sustained winds of at least 74 mph ( 33 m / s ; 64 kn ; 119 km / h ) ( Category 1 ) . The highest classification in the scale , Category 5 , consists of storms with sustained winds exceeding 156 mph ( 70 m / s ; 136 kn ; 251 km / h ) . </P>
what is the criteria for a category 5 hurricane
what is the criteria for a category 5 hurricane
storms with sustained winds exceeding 156 mph ( 70 m / s ; 136 kn ; 251 km / h )
storms with sustained winds exceeding 156 mph ( 70 m / s ; 136 kn ; 251 km / h )