I was indeed using the Saffir-Simpson scale. Regarding "major", that's a bit more complicated. While US hurricanes usually are very strong when they form, by t

I was indeed using the Saffir-Simpson scale. Regarding "major", that's a bit more complicated. While US hurricanes usually are very strong when they form, by the time they hit landfall they've usually lost a lot of energy. Katrina was a category 3 when it hit the US. As was the most recent storm, Milton. While European windstorms are less strong, they usually hit around their peak. A typical Orkan has around 160-190km/h sustained wind speeds at landfall, which would be comparable to a Category 2 or 3 hurricane. I'm not trying to put them on the same level as e.g. Helene, but they're certainly strong enough that fixed awnings aren't exactly a good idea.