convertimate Hurricane categories

Knots to Saffir–Simpson category

Type a value in kn to get it in Saffir–Simpson instantly.

Cat 4Saffir–Simpson

That's 1.04× as strong as Hurricane Katrina at landfall (2005), while Hurricane Andrew at landfall (1992) is 1.27× stronger. Its wind pushes about 3.1× as hard as the weakest hurricane’s.

What it means

How strong is that storm?

One-minute sustained winds, US National Hurricane Center bands. A category number between two whole ones places the wind within that band.

The math

How to convert kn to Saffir–Simpson

The categories are wind-speed bands: Cat 1 = 74–95 mph, Cat 2 = 96–110, Cat 3 = 111–129, Cat 4 = 130–156, Cat 5 = 157 mph and up.

Example: 113 kn = Cat 4 Saffir–Simpson.

Every unit

That storm in every unit

Tables

kn to Saffir–Simpson conversion table

kn to Saffir–Simpson conversion table
knSaffir–Simpson
33.9 knTS Saffir–Simpson
64.3 knTS Saffir–Simpson
83.4 knCat 1 Saffir–Simpson
96.5 knCat 3 Saffir–Simpson
113 knCat 4 Saffir–Simpson
136 knCat 4 Saffir–Simpson
Saffir–Simpson to kn conversion table
Saffir–Simpson to kn conversion table
Saffir–Simpsonkn
TS Saffir–Simpson33.8901 kn
Cat 1 Saffir–Simpson64.3042 kn
Cat 2 Saffir–Simpson83.4217 kn
Cat 3 Saffir–Simpson96.4564 kn
Cat 4 Saffir–Simpson112.967 kn
Cat 5 Saffir–Simpson136.429 kn

Quick answers

Quick answers

How many Saffir–Simpson is 1 kn?
1 kn is TD Saffir–Simpson.
How many Saffir–Simpson is 10 kn?
10 kn is TD Saffir–Simpson.
How many Saffir–Simpson is 113 kn?
113 kn is Cat 4 Saffir–Simpson.

The units

About these units

Knots (kn)

Nautical miles per hour, the forecasters’ unit.

Saffir–Simpson category (Saffir–Simpson)

Categories 1 to 5; TS is a tropical storm, TD a depression.

Learn more about storm units

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