Editing Saffir–Simpson scale (section)

=== Category 3 ===

{{See also|List of Category 3 Atlantic hurricanes|List of Category 3 Pacific hurricanes}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; float:right; margin-left: 1em; width:350px;"
! style="background: #{{Storm colour|cat3}}; text-align: center;" colspan="2" | Category&nbsp;3
|-
! Sustained&nbsp;winds
! Most recent landfall
|-
| 50–58&nbsp;m/s<br />96–112&nbsp;kn<br />178–208&nbsp;km/h<br />111–129&nbsp;mph
| style = "font-size: 80%; width:142px" | [[File:Rafael 2024-11-06 1520Z.jpg|140px]]<br />[[Hurricane Rafael (2024)|Rafael]] in 2024 just prior to its landfall in [[Cuba]]<!--This image should show the most recent hurricane to both peak and make landfall Category 3 intensity-->
|}

'''''Devastating damage will occur'''''

Tropical cyclones of Category&nbsp;3 and higher are described as ''major hurricanes'' in the Atlantic, Eastern Pacific, and Central Pacific [[Tropical cyclone basins|basins]]. These storms can cause some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings, particularly those of wood frame or manufactured materials with minor [[curtain wall (architecture)|curtain wall]] failures. Buildings that lack a solid foundation, such as mobile homes, are usually destroyed, and [[gable]]-end roofs are peeled off.<ref name="NHC SSHS"/>

Manufactured homes usually sustain severe and irreparable damage. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures, while larger structures are struck by floating debris. A large number of trees are uprooted or snapped, isolating many areas. Terrain may be flooded well inland. Near-total to total power loss is likely for up to several weeks. Home water access will likely be lost or contaminated.<ref name="NHC SSHS"/>

Hurricanes that peaked at Category&nbsp;3 intensity and made landfall at that intensity include: <!--This list only includes storms that both peaked and made landfall at Category 3 intensity. Also, please maintain a limit of 20 storms per Saffir-Simpson category, eliminating older and less notable systems as more recent storms make landfall. The reason for maintaining a limit of 20 storms is that as of October 25, 2023, there have been 19 hurricanes that have made landfall while at Category 5 strength in the Atlantic basin and one in the east Pacific, and each category should have the same number of examples to maintain consistency.-->[[Hurricane Easy (1950)|Easy]] (1950), [[Hurricane Carol|Carol]] (1954), [[Hurricane Hilda (1955)|Hilda]] (1955), [[Hurricane Audrey|Audrey]] (1957), [[1967 Pacific hurricane season#Hurricane Olivia|Olivia]] (1967), [[Hurricane Ella (1970)|Ella]] (1970), [[Hurricane Eloise|Eloise]] (1975), [[Hurricane Alicia|Alicia]] (1983), [[Hurricane Elena|Elena]] (1985), [[Hurricane Roxanne|Roxanne]] (1995), [[Hurricane Fran|Fran]] (1996), [[Hurricane Isidore|Isidore]] (2002), [[Hurricane Jeanne|Jeanne]] (2004), [[Hurricane Lane (2006)|Lane]] (2006), [[Hurricane Karl|Karl]] (2010),<!--Do not add Sandy, it is most remembered for non-tropical impact in Northeast US--> [[Hurricane Otto|Otto]] (2016), [[Hurricane Zeta|Zeta]] (2020),  [[Hurricane Grace|Grace]] (2021), [[Hurricane John (2024)|John]] (2024), and [[Hurricane Rafael (2024)|Rafael]] (2024).
{{Clear}}