The Saffir-Simpson scale ranks hurricane wind speeds on a scale of 1 to 5, but critics say the scale does not represent the true danger.
The deadliest hurricane in U.S. history
The final death toll from Hurricane Helen is still unknown, but it is believed to be more than 200 people. Could this be one of the worst death tolls?
From Category 1 to Category 5, hurricane forecasters’ famous rating system is ingrained in the hearts of millions of Americans from Texas to Maine.
The scale, known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, uses categories from 1 to 5 and is rated based on the storm’s maximum sustained wind speed, which ranges from 74 miles per hour to more than 157 miles per hour. It remains popular because of its simplicity.
However, this scale has long been criticized for its simplicity. It does not take into account potentially deadly hurricane hazards such as storm surge, rainfall, flooding, and tornadoes. And this worries hurricane forecasters.
“We’ve tried to de-emphasize it,” John Cangiarosi, a senior hurricane expert at the National Hurricane Center, told USA TODAY. Instead, the group has worked to focus on the impacts of individual storms, such as wind, storm surge, heavy rain, or a combination of all hazards.
History of the Saffir-Simpson scale
This scale was developed by structural engineer Herbert Safir in 1969 as part of a United Nations project. It was then adopted by meteorologist Robert Simpson in the early 1970s and has since become an essential tool for warning the public about the potential impacts of hurricanes of varying intensities, the National Hurricane Center said.
This scale has been compared to a similar (but very different) rating system for tornadoes.
Fujita tornado damage scale is ranked by meteorologists after investigating the damage caused by tornadoes. The Hurricane Center, on the other hand, assigns categories based on predicted estimates of a hurricane’s maximum sustained wind speed.
While the system used for tornadoes may more accurately represent the damage caused by tornadoes, the size of a hurricane helps forecasters warn residents of potential risks.
limits of scale
The limits of the Saffir-Simpson scale have recently come under scrutiny, as wind speed is often only an estimate. Additionally, it is highly localized as it relies on speeds that last for short periods of time in the same location.
NHC Director Michael Brennan told USA TODAY that the measure “only accounts for the wind threat, and it only accounts for the wind threat at the peak of the storm, which typically occurs over a very small area.”
That’s just one of the many limitations of scale. It also doesn’t take into account deadly hazards like storm surge, flooding, rainfall totals, or where the storm will hit, creating a tricky situation. A Category 5 monster storm may sound scary, but it doesn’t pose a threat to people because it spins over the ocean. But a mild-sounding Category 1 storm can cause death and destruction if it hits the wrong place.
What about the new scale?
One expert, meteorologist Jeff Masters of Yale Climate Connections, proposed a new approach.
“We really need three scales to measure hurricane severity, not one scale,” he said. “One is the wind, one is the storm surge, and one is the rainfall.”
Among other researchers who would like to see the current scale adjusted to better represent multiple extreme hazards is Jennifer Collins, a hurricane researcher and professor in the University of South Florida’s Department of Earth Sciences. “Now is the time for change to keep people safe,” Collins told USA TODAY in August 2025.
She and a team in the Netherlands published a paper in summer 2025 to replace the Saffir-Simpson scale. The authors propose a “tropical cyclone severity scale” that incorporates storm surge and rainfall in addition to wind.
“Our scale will make the transition very easy for the public,” she said. She continued: “You can’t just put up a wind meter. Wind is only responsible for about 8% of deaths.” Rainfall accounts for 27% of deaths, she added. “We’ve used[the Saffir-Simpson scale]for too long and relied on it too much. I think it’s time for a change.”
Barometric pressure is a better measurement than wind
Another study from 2017 says a better scale focuses on barometric pressure. Specifically, it will focus on the pressure difference between the center of the storm and the outside of it, formally known as the “core pressure deficit.”
Phil Klotzbach, a hurricane researcher at Colorado State University, also said that barometric pressure should be used as a potential new metric: “Barometric pressure is more highly correlated with damage than wind, and is easier to measure than wind (both by aircraft and ground observations). Barometric pressure, by definition, is a measure of overall strength, meaning it is a combination of both magnitude and wind.”
But NHC hurricane expert Brad Reinhart urged caution with new scale developments.
“The Saffir-Simpson anemometer does a good job of conveying the potential for damage in the event of winds at that threshold,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s difficult to pinpoint the maximum size of a hurricane with a single number.”
