Category 6 Hurricane Does Not Exist
Hurricane categories range from 1 (wind speed 76 mph) to 5 (157 mph and above). Category 6 does not exist, even for record storms like Irma.
There are several headlines and memes around that say that Irma is a Category 6 storm, or that it should be a Category 6 storm, or that there will be a Category 6 storm soon, as if the meteorologists were gathered at the tables in some secret lair of meteorologists waiting. at the right time to add a new category to the Saffir-Simpson scale . In fact, meteorologists generally roll their eyes like this:
Dennis Feltgen, a spokesman for the National Hurricane Center, told the New York Times that Category 6 is unnecessary because Category 5 is already as bad as we can imagine and plan.
The scale classifies this level of damage as “catastrophic,” said Mr Feltgen, and “what remains after” catastrophic “damage?
Jeff Masters, a meteorologist and hurricane hunter, told Thinkprogress that it would be nice to add Category 6, but not because it helps in disaster preparation:
“From a climatological perspective, it makes sense to add Category 6 to draw attention to the fact that climate change is likely to make the worst storms stronger,” Masters explained. But “from a practical recommendation / warning point of view, it doesn’t make sense to add Category 6 as a Category 5 storm is already catastrophic. A Category 6 hurricane will not motivate people to act to protect, no more than a Category 5 storm. “
In terms of preparedness, we already know that hurricane categories do not capture the full picture of how devastating hurricanes can be. The categories are based solely on wind speed and do not predict flooding. For more information, it is best to simply follow the National Hurricane Center forecasts .