TYPHOON STRENGTH
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center and other U.S. meteorological organizations use the following to classify typhoon/hurricane categories based on maximum sustained wind speeds:
• CATEGORY 1: Maximum sustained winds of 74 mph to 95 mph.
• CATEGORY 2: Maximum sustained winds of 96 mph to 110 mph.
• CATEGORY 3: Maximum sustained winds of 111 mph to 129 mph.
• CATEGORY 4: Maximum sustained winds of 130 mph to 156 mph.
• CATEGORY 5: Maximum sustained winds over 157 mph.
A typhoon with maximum sustained surface winds greater than or equal to 130 knots (about 149 mph), which is approximately a Category 5 typhoon, is considered a “super typhoon.”
Source: Joint Typhoon Warning Center
