Relation Between Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale Wind Speeds and Peak 3-s Gust Speeds Over Open Terrain

Published

July 1, 2007

Author(s)

Emil Simiu, Peter J. Vickery, A Kareem

Abstract

The Saffir-Simpson scale for categorizing hurricane intensity and damage potential is increasingly being used by hurricane forecasters and emergency managers. The hurricane intensity categories are associated in the scale with 1-min wind speeds. For structural engineering purposes the ASCE 7-Standard defines these 1-min speeds as speeds at 10 m over open water. This note provides estimates of the ratio of peak 3-s wind speeds at 10 m over open terrain exposure the speeds used in the ASCE 7 wind map to 1-min speeds at 10 m above open water. Based on the ASCE 7 power law model, the estimated ratio is 1.03. Based on the logarithmic law model, depending on assumptions pertaining to the surface roughness for flow over open water and on estimation method, the ratio varies from 1.03 to 1.12.

Citation

Journal of Structural Engineering-Asce

Volume

133

Issue

7

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

building technology, damage, hurricanes, standards, wind loads

Citation

Simiu, E. , Vickery, P. and Kareem, A. (2007), Relation Between Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale Wind Speeds and Peak 3-s Gust Speeds Over Open Terrain, Journal of Structural Engineering-Asce, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=860600 (Accessed November 6, 2025)