Publication Date November 10, 2013 | Science Blogs

Should There be a Category 6 for Hurricanes?

Philippines
Super Typhoon Haiyan becomes strongest storm to ever make landfall. Image: CIRA
Super Typhoon Haiyan becomes strongest storm to ever make landfall. Image: CIRA

Should there be a Category 6, or even a Category 7, to classify extra bit tropical cyclones like Haiyan?

Some tropical cyclones labeled Category 5 are much stronger than others. It has been suggested that we would be smart to extend the system to have a Category 6 and maybe even a Category 7 to allow the additional severity of these storms to be indicated when they are being spoken of in the news or by officials in charge of scaring people into doing the right thing, like running away or staying indoors.