Scientists Propose Category 6 for Extreme Hurricanes as Climate Change Intensifies Storms

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by two climate scientists proposes introducing a Category 6 to the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. This addition aims to account for the increasing intensity of the strongest tropical storms, potentially exceeding winds of 192 miles per hour, due to climate change.

The current highest category, 5, caps at 157 mph, but recent decades have seen storms in the Pacific reaching speeds that would qualify for the proposed Category 6. Critics, including various experts and officials, argue that focusing on wind speed alone might not effectively communicate the full danger of hurricanes, emphasizing that water-related impacts, such as storm surge and flooding, are often more deadly.

The debate reflects a broader concern about the need to adapt our meteorological classifications to the realities of a warming world, where the frequency and ferocity of such "whopper" storms are expected to increase.