In recent years, meteorologists have been advocating for a new sixth category for hurricanes as tropical cyclones are becoming more intense due to global warming. The current classification scale of one to five is no longer adequate to capture the strength of these storms. US researchers Michael Wehner and James Kossin have proposed this new category based on their research and observations over the past four decades.
The need for a new category was highlighted by recent hurricanes like Katrina in 2005 and Maria in 2017, which caused catastrophic destruction despite being classified as Category 5 hurricanes. These superstorms have become more frequent and intense, making it urgent for meteorologists to push for the implementation of a new sixth category.
Wehner and Kossin’s research shows that there have been several storms in the past nine years that have exceeded the boundaries of the current Category 5 classification. These storms have had winds reaching speeds of over 300 kilometers per hour, causing significant damage and loss of life. The new classification would better reflect the strength and destructive potential of these extreme weather events, helping communities better prepare and respond to the growing threat of intense tropical cyclones.
One of the most destructive hurricanes in recent years was Haiyan in 2013, which caused the death of about 6,000 people in the Philippines. Another powerful storm, Patricia in 2015, had winds of over 340 kilometers per hour in the eastern Pacific Ocean. These extreme storms demonstrate the need for a new classification category to accurately capture their intensity and potential for devastation.
