Scientists propose a Category 6 as hurricanes gain in intensity with climate change 

Two climate scientists are proposing a sixth category of hurricanes as climate change makes them more intense, according to a new research study.

in the investigation, Published on Monday In the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, two scientists argued that the “open-ended” Saffir-Simpson hurricane anemometer is becoming increasingly “inappropriate” as the planet warms.

The scale, developed in the early 1970s, may not reflect the true strength of some storms, said study co-author Michael F. Wenner and former NOAA climatologist James P. Kossin argued. Hurricane researcher.

Under their proposal, the Category 6 designation would apply to storms with wind speeds exceeding 192 miles per hour.

Storms with wind speeds of 157 mph or higher are currently ranked as Category 5, but this is an open-ended approach that fails to adequately warn people of the dangers of higher wind speeds, the study argued.

The study’s co-authors believe that the open-ended nature of the current size may prompt people to underestimate the risk of some hurricanes, which will become “increasingly problematic in a warming world.” There is.

“We know that a number of recent storms have already reached this hypothetical Category 6 intensity, and based on multiple independent lines of evidence examining simulated maximum wind speeds and potential peak wind speeds, “More such storms are predicted to occur as the climate continues to warm,” the study said. said.

Wind speeds of more than 192 mph have been reached in five locations since 2013, all in the Pacific Ocean, and the weather is expected to get even stronger as the world warms, according to the Associated Press.

“Climate change is making the worst storms even worse,” Wehner told the newswire.

Some experts told The Associated Press that they don’t think a separate category is necessary and that it could give people the wrong impression because it’s based on wind speed rather than water, the most dangerous element of a hurricane. He said there is.

Brian McNoldy, a hurricane researcher at the University of Miami, was quoted as saying that climate change is not causing more storms, but rather that storms are becoming more intense and more likely to qualify as major hurricanes. There is. McNoldy said this is due to rising ocean temperatures.

Cossin told The Associated Press that Pacific storms are stronger because there is less land to weaken them, as opposed to the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea. Although no Atlantic storm has ever reached the 192 mph threshold, Kossin and Wenner told the newswire that global warming will create greater opportunities in the future.

Jamie Rome, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center, told the newswire that his office is “focusing on individual hazards such as storm surge, wind, precipitation, tornadoes, and rip currents, rather than specific categories.” I’m trying to do that,” he said. Storm only provides information about wind hazards. ”

Rohm added that since Category 5 already indicates “catastrophic damage” from the winds, there is no need to add a higher category even if the storm becomes stronger, the Associated Press noted. did.