Is It Time for Category 6 Hurricanes? Scientists Say Yes

February 6, 2024

The Rising Intensity of Superstorms and the Case for a Category 6 Hurricane

As the planet warms, hurricanes are growing in intensity, pushing the boundaries of the current Category 5 classification on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Scientists, looking at storms like the unprecedented Hurricane Patricia, argue that it's high time to introduce a Category 6 to accurately represent these supercharged storms. This change would help better communicate the increasing dangers of climate change and prepare communities for the most severe hurricanes yet seen. The conversation about redefining hurricane categories signals a crucial step in acknowledging and adapting to our rapidly changing climate.

Read the full story here: We’ve Already Seen Category 6 Hurricanes—Now Scientists Want to Make It Official

Highlights

• Several tropical cyclones in recent years have exceeded the category 5 intensity, suggesting the need for a new category.
• The intensification of storms is attributed to climate change, increasing the potential energy available for storm development.
• A proposed category 6 would include storms with wind speeds greater than 192 miles per hour.
• Historical data and future climate models both support the increasing likelihood of what would be categorized as Category 6 hurricanes.
• Focusing solely on the Saffir-Simpson scale may understate the risk posed by superstorms, necessitating broader communication strategies.

In recent years, the phenomenon of hurricanes surpassing the maximum intensity of Category 5 has led scientists to suggest the creation of a new Category 6 for the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This suggestion comes in light of the evidence that climate change is contributing to stronger and more destructive tropical cyclones. Five notable storms, including Typhoon Haiyan and Hurricane Patricia, demonstrated wind speeds significantly above the Category 5 threshold, causing devastating impacts.

The proposal for a new hurricane category is based on three main points of evidence: historical instances of storms that would fit into Category 6, an analysis of the maximum potential intensity of storms indicating conditions conducive to Category 6 hurricanes have become more common due to climate change, and climate models predicting an increase in the likelihood of Category 6 hurricanes. This initiative aims to better communicate the severity and risk of the most intense storms to the public.

Despite the focus on adding a new category, some experts argue for a broader approach to communicating hurricane risks that includes and goes beyond wind speed categorization. The importance of considering all hurricane-related dangers, such as storm surges and rainfall, is emphasized. The discussion around a Category 6 is not only about the immediate threat of powerful storms but is also a way to signal the broader risks posed by climate change to the public and policymakers.

Read the full article here.

Essential Insights

• James Kossin: An atmospheric scientist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and an author of the study advocating for a Category 6 hurricane classification.
• Michael Wehner: A climate scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, contributed to the research on Category 6 hurricanes.
• Hurricane Patricia: Recorded as the strongest hurricane ever, with wind speeds up to 215 miles per hour.
• Typhoon Haiyan: A devastating storm that made landfall in the Philippines in 2013 with winds reaching 195 miles per hour.
• Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale: The most widely recognized hurricane intensity scale currently ranking storms from tropical depression to category 5 hurricanes.