"Rethinking Hurricane Classifications: The Case for Category 6 Storms"

Scientists are proposing the addition of a Category 6 to the Saffir-Simpson Scale to account for increasingly intense hurricanes, with wind speeds exceeding 192 mph. Climate change is contributing to the rise of these mega-hurricanes, which are becoming more common due to warming oceans and atmosphere. The proposed Category 6 would include storms with sustained winds of 192 mph or more, and recent examples that could fit this classification include Haiyan, Patricia, Meranti, Goni, and Surigae. The researchers acknowledge the limitations of the current scale and emphasize the need for updated measures to reflect the impact of climate change on storm intensity.