What are the hurricane categories and what do they mean? Here's a breakdown of the scale and wind speeds

The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. Hurricanes are rated on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which includes five categories based on the storm's sustained wind speeds. It also estimates possible damage to property, ranging from "some damage" to "catastrophic."

The 2023 season saw its first major storm in late August, with Hurricane Franklin. The Category 4 hurricane was not forecast to make landfall but was was still expected to cause "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions" along the U.S. East Coast. Meanwhile, forecasters said Idalia became a major hurricane on a path to hit Florida's Gulf Coast on Wednesday, Aug. 30.