Tropical storms can be fierce with winds from 50 to 70 mph. Winds of 74 mph and higher are considered hurricane force. There are different categories of hurricanes:
Category 1 Hurricane: 74-95 mph sustained winds. Some damage.
Category 2 Hurricane: 96-110 mph sustained winds. Extensive damage.
Category 3 Hurricane: 111-129 mph sustained winds. Devastating damage.
Category 4 Hurricane: 130-156 mph sustained winds. Catastrophic damage.
Category 5 Hurricane: 157 mph and higher winds. Catastrophic damage.
Right now Hurricane Matthew is a Cat. 3 storm but intensifying once again to a Cat. 4 storm. Everyone on the east coast of Florida and as far north as the Carolina's needs to be alert! Kudos to the local government in either North or SouthCarolina; I heard on the news that all lanes of all interstate highways are now one way, in directions away from the coast!
I've experienced Cat 1 and 2 Hurricanes and those are scary enough, I'm hoping for the best with Matthew but he doesn't appear to be weakening. This is the first time weathering a storm in this house so it should be interesting. We have a metal roof, we're all shuttered up and should be okay until Matthew passes sometime tomorrow.
The last Category 3 storm to hit Florida was Wilma in 2005 and it caused more than $15 Billion dollars in damages in the southern part of Florida.
