Which weather scale rates tropical cyclones from Category 1 to Category 5 by wind speed?

The Saffir–Simpson scale rates tropical cyclones from Category 1 to Category 5 by sustained wind speed.

The scale was developed in the early 1970s by civil engineer Herbert Saffir and meteorologist Robert Simpson. It was designed to communicate the likely wind damage from hurricanes in a simple public format. Category 1 begins at 74 miles per hour, or 119 kilometres per hour, and Category 5 begins at 157 miles per hour, or 252 kilometres per hour, using one-minute sustained winds.

The category describes wind only. It does not directly rate storm surge, rainfall, flooding, tornadoes, or the storm’s size, all of which can cause severe damage. A lower-category hurricane can therefore produce dangerous flooding, while a large storm can affect a vast area. The scale is used for hurricanes in the Atlantic and northeastern Pacific, while other regions often use different terminology and warning systems.