Saffir-Simpson categories
The Saffir-Simpson scale sorts hurricanes by one-minute sustained wind. Here every storm is placed by the highest category it reached while classed as a hurricane in the best track; 808 Atlantic and 551 Pacific storms peaked below hurricane strength.
Of the Atlantic hurricanes, 35% became major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger); in the Pacific the share is 43%. The latest Category 5 in the Atlantic file is Melissa (2025), and in the Pacific file Kristy (2024). Category 1 is the most common peak in both basins.
Storms by peak category
| Category | Sustained wind | Atlantic since 1851 | Pacific since 1949 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 5 | 157 mph or more | 44 | 24 |
| Category 4 | 130 to 156 mph | 135 | 146 |
| Category 3 | 111 to 129 mph | 166 | 90 |
| Category 2 | 96 to 110 mph | 256 | 91 |
| Category 1 | 74 to 95 mph | 378 | 252 |
Wind thresholds in knots, the unit of the record: 64, 83, 96, 113 and 137. Pages convert them to miles per hour the way the National Hurricane Center does, rounded to the nearest 5 mph.