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The commonly used Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale was designed as a public communication tool to help people easily understand the relative risk of damage from oncoming storms in the 1970s.

“It’s always on the top of the wind scale.”

Otis reached the shore as a Category 5 - the strongest level on the five-step Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale - before quickly weakening to a Category 4 storm.

Lee had intensified into a dangerous Category 5 storm earlier in the week, the highest step on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale, before downgrading into a Category 3 hurricane.

It was expected to reach Category 3 force - classified as a major hurricane - on the five-step Saffir-Simpson wind scale by the time it makes Florida landfall on Wednesday, the NHC said.