Hurricane Beryl winds concern Texas, but how bad is a Category 1 hurricane really?
East Texas may experience Category 1 hurricane conditions thanks to Hurricane Beryl.
According to the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, a hurricane is considered Category 1 if it has winds between 74 and 95 mph. However, this weather can still cause minor damage, such as trees toppling over or power lines being disturbed.
Hurricane Beryl woke up Houston just Monday morning, bringing its strong winds, heavy rain, and a loss of power for millions of Texans.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Beryl has reached maximum winds of 70 mph, not quite enough to classify as a Category 1 hurricane. However, the storm will continue making its way Northeast, moving into Ohio and Mississippi with increased forward speed.
Texas is currently experiencing Beryl as a “tropical cyclone,” a storm with winds between 39 to 73 mph. Last week, Beryl was labeled as a category four, with winds between 130 and 156 mph, damaging towns throughout the Caribbean.
Beginning on July 1, Beryl slammed into Carriacou and Petite Martinique, Grenada, destroying 98% of the town’s buildings. It then made its way to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Venezuela, and Jamaica, bringing flooding and a loss of power. It calmed down on July 5 to a Category 2 storm, hitting Cancun and Tulum, with no serious damage reported.
Texas should experience Hurricane Beryl as a tropical cyclone or category one hurricane for the remainder of today and tomorrow.
What are hurricane categories?
The Saffir Simpson Hurricane scale was created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The scale is determined by a hurricane’s wind speed. The larger the category, the more potential for property damage.
There are five categories. Three and higher are classified as “major hurricanes.” According to NOAA, “Major hurricanes can cause devastating to catastrophic wind damage and significant loss of life simply due to the strength of their winds.”
Luckily, it is very unlikely Texas will witness anything other than a Category 1 hurricane with Beryl passing through. However, Texas is no stranger to these tropical storms. It’s important to know the difference between hurricane categories so you can prepare properly.
Category 1: 74 to 95 mph. Power outages and damage to power lines and poles. As well as structural damage to poorly constructed buildings or mobile homes.
Category 2: 96 to 100 mph. Total power loss. Major home damage to the roof, doors, and windows. Trees uprooted, and lost items became projectiles.
Category 3: 111 to 129 mph, major hurricane. Power outages as well as possible water outages. Trees, homes, piers, disrupted or severely damaged.
Category 4: 130 to 156 mph, major hurricane. Power outages can last weeks or months due to destruction. Homes may have roofs and walls destroyed, as well as trees rooted up and blocking roads.
Category five: 156 or higher mph, major hurricane. Power outages for weeks or months. Buildings and homes destroyed or even completely blown away. Areas may even be uninhabitable after.