How are tropical storms & hurricanes categorized in terms of strength?
When a tropical system first begins to organize, it is initially called a tropical depression. Once sustained wind speeds reach 39 mph, the system is upgraded to a tropical storm and given a name. If a tropical storm intensifies to the point where sustained winds reach 74 mph or greater, it is classified as a hurricane. The strength of a hurricane is categorized by the Saffir-Simpson scale. There are five categories on the scale which are used to estimate the storms potential for property damage and flooding were it to make landfall. Details about the Saffir-Simpson scale can be found at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshs.html.
