KNOW YOUR WIND SPEED
Mentioned throughout this web site is the phrase: “Wind Speed”
Wind speed is the peak velocity of a 3 second gust of wind “in MPH” our homes are designed to withstand. For sustained wind speeds there is a reduction of 15%. Sustained Winds are defined as a constant wind lasting several minutes to several hours. For example, you may hear this phrase on your local weather channel, “We will have sustained winds of 31 to 35 miles per hour for the next 5 hours with wind gusts of 50 to 60 miles per hour for the same 5 hours.
The continental U.S. has been divided into different basic wind speeds based on an average over the years. You can find the wind speed of your county by viewing the maps given for each state. If you aren’t 100% sure of your wind speed, call your local building department for this information. High speed wind is one of the enemies of your home. It is the one thing that cannot be predicted and there is nothing you can do to stop it. The only way to protect your investment is;
To prepare for it by building your home to withstand high winds. Listed below are nationally recognized wind ratings of storms. HURRICANES | | CATEGORY | WIND SPEED | CAT-1 | 74-95 MPH | CAT-2 | 96-110 MPH | CAT-3 | 111-130 MPH | CAT-4 | 131-155 MPH | CAT-5 | 156 MPH |
| TORNADOS | | CATEGORY | WIND SPEED | F-0 | 40-72 MPH | F-1 | 73-112 MPH | F-2 | 113-158 MPH | F-3 | 159-207 MPH | F-4 | 208-320 MPH | F-5 | 208-320 MPH |
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