MEXICO:The Saffir-Simpson Scale of Hurricane Intensity was devised in the early 1970s by Herbert Saffir, a consulting engineer who specialised in wind damage to buildings, and Robert Simpson, director of the US National Hurricane Center in Miami. Any hurricane may pass through one, several or all of the five stages or "categories" on the scale.
A hurricane at Category 1 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale is comparatively harmless.It may lop a branch or two from trees and bring down some powerlines, but its winds are no stronger than 135km/h (90mph). By Category 2, a hurricane will have winds of more than 160km/h (100mph), and a few trees begin to fall.
At Category 3 the damage becomes relatively widespread and affects buildings and other solid structures, while Category 4 brings winds to 240km/h (150mph) with extreme damage, doors and windows of buildings in the path of the storm being almost totally destroyed.
Category 5 is catastrophic: buildings in the storm's vicinity are devastated, winds exceed 255km/h (160mph), and storm surges of six metres (20ft) or more can be expected along coasts.