Nation What is the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind speed scale? Breaking down how we classify hurricanes May 20, 2022 Doyle Rice, USA TODAY Comments Off on What is the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind speed scale? Breaking down how we classify hurricanes This wind speed scale – known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale – is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane's maximum sustained wind speed.