In recent years, researchers have been warning that hurricanes are intensifying due to global warming. They argue that the current classification system for hurricanes on a scale of one to five is no longer sufficient as these storms become more powerful. US researchers Michael Wehner and James Kossin have proposed the addition of a sixth category based on weather models and observations over the past four decades.
Hurricanes in the fifth category already have wind speeds exceeding 70 meters per second with no upper limit on the Saffir-Simpson intensity scale. These storms cause catastrophic destruction, making everyday life in affected areas significantly more difficult. The proposal for a sixth category comes at a time when hurricanes of increasing strength are becoming more common.
The call for a new category comes after several powerful storms in recent years, including those with wind speeds exceeding 80 meters per second. Some of the most destructive hurricanes in recent years include Katrina and Maria, which caused thousands of deaths and billions of dollars in damages.
Researchers point to storms like Haiyan and Patricia as examples of how hurricanes can reach wind speeds exceeding 300 kilometers per hour, causing widespread devastation and loss of life. The proposed sixth category would help classify hurricanes with wind speeds even higher than those observed in recent years, better preparing communities for the destructive power of these extreme weather events.
