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.

Ahead of Hurricane Helene's landfall, forecasters are predicting it will hit Florida as a Category 3 hurricane. Here's what that means

A hurricane's category describes potential wind damage but does not describe other deadly hurricane hazards such as storm surge.