Hurricane Preparedness: Categories, Watches and a Simple Checklist
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The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30; the eastern Pacific season starts May 15. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issues forecasts, the forecast cone and watches and warnings.
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
| Category | Sustained winds |
|---|---|
| 1 | 74–95 mph |
| 2 | 96–110 mph |
| 3 (major) | 111–129 mph |
| 4 (major) | 130–156 mph |
| 5 (major) | 157 mph or higher |
The scale covers wind only. Storm surge, rainfall flooding and tornadoes can be deadly at any category.
Watch vs. warning timing
- Hurricane watch: hurricane conditions are possible, issued 48 hours before tropical-storm-force winds are expected.
- Hurricane warning: hurricane conditions are expected, issued 36 hours ahead of tropical-storm-force winds.
The cone is not the impact zone
The NHC cone shows the probable track of the storm's center. Hazards, including surge and heavy rain, often reach far outside the cone.
Storm surge
Storm surge, the abnormal rise of seawater pushed ashore by the storm, has historically been the greatest threat to life along the coast. Know whether you live in an evacuation zone, and leave when local officials tell you to.
Checklist
- Know your evacuation zone and route.
- Build a kit: water (one gallon per person per day for several days), food, medicines, flashlight, batteries, first aid, a battery or hand-crank radio, chargers.
- Copy important documents and keep them waterproof.
- Plan for pets.
- Check insurance, including flood insurance, which often has a waiting period.
Related guides
Your World Weather Radar
The app's hurricane tracker shows the NHC forecast track and cone on the radar map, and a HURRICANE briefing tab appears when a storm is active.
Sources
- NOAA NHC: Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
- NWS: Hurricane preparedness
- NHC: Storm surge overview
- Ready.gov: Hurricanes
- Ready.gov: Build a kit
Hunt smarter with Your World Hunt
- 🧭 Hunting map with GPS return and directions
- 💨 Wind, barometric pressure, moon and sun times, plus deer feeding times (Premium)
- 🗺️ Trip Planner with Ask Hawk and Top spots: public refuges and private lodges near you
- 🎧 Guides with a Listen button, in English and Spanish
Last reviewed November 2026. General information only; follow official guidance in an emergency.