NHC Tropical Cyclone Categories and What Exactly They Mean

Hurricane season will be here before we know it and just like every year, we need to prepare. Since 1974, the National Hurricane Center has used the Safir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale to classify storms in the Atlantic basin. The recognized classifications range from Tropical Depression to Category 5 Hurricane.

We have broken down each classification for you to refer to below.

Hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin starts on June 1st and runs through the month of November. This year's official hurricane prediction calls for 16 named storms this season. Also included in the prediction is a 69% chance for at least one major hurricane to make landfall in the United States.