The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale was developed in 1971 and unveiled to the public in 1973. Here’s a look at the system that ranks tropical cyclones by their potential destructive power, how it works and the men who invented it. The scale rates the potential for damage from hurricanes based on the storm’s sustained wind speed.

Helene is almost a major hurricane with additional strengthening forecast before landfall in the Florida Big Bend region. Current Position/Movement: LOCATION...27.9N 84.6W ABOUT 130 MI...205 KM W OF TAMPA FLORIDA ABOUT 175

Hurricane Helene is now a Category 2 Hurricane. Helene is expected to rapidly intensify into a Category 4 storm and make landfall Thursday night in the Big Bend region, bringing “catastrophic” storm surge and wind to parts of Florida,