Staying Hurricane Aware: Why Wind Speed Isn’t the Whole Story
As the 2025 hurricane season heats up, it’s a good time to clarify how we think about storm impacts—particularly as it relates to infrastructure monitoring.
Hurricane Katrina, classified as a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, is often cited as one of the most powerful storms in U.S. history. But from an infrastructure monitoring standpoint, this scale only tells part of the story. The Saffir-Simpson scale categorizes storms by their maximum sustained wind speeds—but says nothing about rainfall or storm surge, which often cause the most significant damage to critical infrastructure.
Take Tropical Storm Amelia (1978) as an example. Though it did not even register as a hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, Amelia dropped over 48 inches of rain, compared to less than 17 inches during Katrina. For those of us monitoring for scour, inundation, or erosion risks, this kind of precipitation data is far more impactful than wind speed alone.
That’s why it’s essential to look beyond traditional categorization when preparing for a storm. Products like Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts (QPF), National Hurricane Center briefings, and localized forecasts provide more actionable information for infrastructure monitoring.
At USEngineering Solutions (USES Corp.), we prioritize timely, site-specific storm monitoring. When a significant storm is forecasted in your area, you can expect a detailed, customized storm report focused on rainfall, storm surge potential, and impacts to your assets. Throughout hurricane season, I will remain weather-aware and provide continuous updates tailored to your region and infrastructure needs.
Prepared by Cole Rademacher, Meteorologist, USES Corp.
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USES Corporation is a software solutions company that enables critical infrastructure owners, regulators, and asset managers to monitor, in real-time, their bridge, dam, levee, and other hydrologic infrastructure.
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Hurricane Katrina photo credit: Internet Archive
