Comparisons Across Basins
The terminology for tropical cyclones differs from one region to another. Below is a summary of the classifications used by the official warning centres worldwide. (Note: The Hurricane categories for the NE Pacific and N Atlantic are approximate at best. The wind speeds listed do not match the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale):
| Tropical Cyclone Classifications | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Beaufort scale |
1-minute sustained winds | 10-minute sustained winds | NE Pacific & N Atlantic NHC/CPHC |
NW Pacific JTWC |
NW Pacific JMA |
N Indian Ocean IMD |
SW Indian Ocean MF |
Australia & S Pacific BOM/FMS |
| 0–7 | <32 knots (37 mph; 59 km/h) | <28 knots (32 mph; 52 km/h) | Tropical Depression | Tropical Depression | Tropical Depression | Depression | Zone of Disturbed Weather | Tropical Disturbance Tropical Depression Tropical Low |
| 7 | 33 knots (38 mph; 61 km/h) | 28–29 knots (32–33 mph; 52–54 km/h) | Deep Depression | Tropical Disturbance | ||||
| 8 | 34–37 knots (39–43 mph; 63–69 km/h) | 30–33 knots (35–38 mph; 56–61 km/h) | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm | Tropical Depression | |||
| 9-10 | 38–54 knots (44–62 mph; 70–100 km/h) | 34–47 knots (39–54 mph; 63–87 km/h) | Tropical Storm | Cyclonic Storm | Moderate Tropical Storm | Category 1 tropical cyclone |
||
| 11 | 55–63 knots (63–72 mph; 102–117 km/h) | 48–55 knots (55–63 mph; 89–102 km/h) | Severe Tropical Storm | Severe Cyclonic Storm | Severe Tropical Storm | Category 2 tropical cyclone |
||
| 12+ | 64–71 knots (74–82 mph; 119–131 km/h) | 56–63 knots (64–72 mph; 104–117 km/h) | Category 1 hurricane | Typhoon | ||||
| 72–82 knots (83–94 mph; 133–152 km/h) | 64–72 knots (74–83 mph; 119–133 km/h) | Typhoon | Very Severe Cyclonic Storm |
Tropical Cyclone | Category 3 severe tropical cyclone |
|||
| 83–95 knots (96–109 mph; 154–176 km/h) | 73–83 knots (84–96 mph; 135–154 km/h) | Category 2 hurricane | ||||||
| 96–97 knots (110–112 mph; 178–180 km/h) | 84–85 knots (97–98 mph; 156–157 km/h) | Category 3 Hurricane | ||||||
| 98–112 knots (113–129 mph; 181–207 km/h) | 86–98 knots (99–113 mph; 159–181 km/h) | Intense Tropical Cyclone | Category 4 severe tropical cyclone |
|||||
| 113–122 knots (130–140 mph; 209–226 km/h) | 99–107 knots (114–123 mph; 183–198 km/h) | Category 4 hurricane | ||||||
| 123–129 knots (142–148 mph; 228–239 km/h) | 108–113 knots (124–130 mph; 200–209 km/h) | Category 5 severe tropical cyclone |
||||||
| 130–136 knots (150–157 mph; 240–252 km/h) | 114–119 knots (131–137 mph; 211–220 km/h) | Super Typhoon | Super Cyclonic Storm | Very Intense Tropical Cyclone | ||||
| >137 knots (158 mph; 254 km/h) | >120 knots (140 mph; 220 km/h) | Category 5 hurricane | ||||||
Read more about this topic: South Pacific Ocean Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale
Famous quotes containing the word comparisons:
“The surest route to breeding jealousy is to compare. Since jealousy comes from feeling “less than” another, comparisons only fan the fires.”
—Dorothy Corkville Briggs (20th century)