The Hurricane Severity Index (orHSI) measures the strength and destructive capability of a storm based on its size and wind intensity.[1] The HSI attempts to demonstrate that two hurricanes of similar intensity may have different destructive capability due to variances in size, and furthermore that a less intense, but very large hurricane, may in fact be more destructive than a smaller, more intense hurricane. It is very similar to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Hurricane Index, which also factors both size and intensity of a hurricane.[2] HSI was developed by a private company program in competition with the National Weather Service's accumulated cyclone energy index.
The Hurricane Severity Index is a 50-point scale, with wind intensity and size contributing equally.
| Wind Radii | Size Point Range |
|---|---|
| 35 kn | 1–3 |
| 50 kn | 1–4 |
| 65 kn | 1–8 |
| 87 kn | 1–10 |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
