HOUSTON —
THE QUESTION
Could Category 6 be added to the hurricane scale?
THE SOURCES
THE ANSWER
No, a Category 6 will not be added to the hurricane scale.
WHAT WE FOUND
A pair of climate scientists in a research study released in February 2024 used typhoon and hurricane data to investigate if a sixth category should be added to the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale. According to the study, the scientists say this hypothetical Category 6 will have storms with wind speeds of 192 mph or higher. The study cites five Pacific storms that would fit that category including Hurricane Patricia (2015). The late October storm made landfall in Cuixmala, Jalisco in Mexico. When Patricia moved north the system brought heavy rain to the Houston area.
The researchers in the study are using storms like Patricia as evidence that Category 6 could indicate the effect of climate change.
Jamie Rhome, Deputy Director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in an interview at the National Hurricane Conference with KHOU 11 Chief Meteorologist David Paul echoes the researcher's observation that storms are getting more intense. Rhome also says the NHC will not be adding an additional category to the Saffir-Simpson Scale.
The scale, in its more than five decades of use, has seen two changes.
Rhome attributes Hurricane Ike (2008) as "the straw that broke the camel's back." for the changes that began in 2009. Starting in the 2010 hurricane season, NHC stripped pressure and storm surge ranges from the categories, making the scale based only on wind readings. The second change made adjustments to help with wind speed conversions, starting the 2012 hurricane season.
Rhome told KHOU 11, "We are absolutely seeing a trend towards storms producing more rain and more flooding."
Although the scale will not be changing, Rhome leaves this message with the Houston-Galveston area about future storms: "My message to people in Houston Galveston is no matter what storms you've gone through, I don't want to hear you say I've gone through this many storms. I know no matter how many storms you've gone through, the next one is going to be unique and different and you better be prepared."