What is a category 3 hurricane? What does a category 3 storm actually mean? Is it the worst category hurricane? And what kind of damage can this category of storm do? Living through hurricane season in Florida means the threat of severe weather is very real. You will hear plenty about the dangers of hurricanes during the season. But not everyone will give details on what each category of storm is and what kind of threats they pose. So we want to provide you with all the details you need to know. The intent of this article is to help you better understand hurricanes. This will help you better protect your Florida home and family if and when a category 3 storm does approach.
FAQs
According to the National Hurricane Center a category 3 hurricane is a storm classified as a 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. It is as a major storm. And the wind speeds of a category 3 have the potential to cause “devastating damage”. Also it should be noted that the Saffir-Simpson scale is used to categorize a hurricane’s maximum sustained wind speeds only. It does not factor in rain, flooding, storm surge, etc. It is used to predict the potential for property damage.
Category 3 hurricane have sustained wind speeds of 111 – 129 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale details the potential danger and damage of each category of storm. And according to the NOAA website, a category 3 storm has the potential to cause “devastating damage”. So yes, this category of storm can be dangerous.
Also, the Saffir-Simpson scale only considers damage from sustained wind speeds. So it does not consider rain, storm surge, or flooding, etc. So if you live in a coastal area prone to flooding this should be considered as well.
According to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale on the NOAA website, a category 3 storm has the potential to cause major damage to “well-built frame homes.” Homes may lose their roof or gable ends. Also, this storm has the potential to break and uproot trees. Also, “near-total” loss is to be expected in terms of power and water.
Whether you need to evacuate for a category three storm will depend on the specific storm and your specific location. It is recommended to sign up for a storm alert system. It’s also advised that you follow the recommendations of your local weather service and local authorities. You can find out more about evacuation information at Know Your Zone.
Recent Category 3 Atlantic storms
Some of the more recent category 3 Atlantic storms are listed below:
How can you protect your home against a hurricane in Florida?
If you live in Florida you will need to protect both your family and home from hurricanes. When it comes to hurricane protection you can use hurricane shutters, storm panels and impact windows.
If you need more information you can learn more about all your hurricane protection options on the Eurex Shutters site. And if you need window protection for your home, including anywhere in Southwest Florida then we would love to help.
