Theoreticaly, could there be a Cat 6?

[sprink52]

I remember a few years ago there was talk about classifying Mitch and Michelle as a new Cat 6 because of the amount of rain plus the extreme winds (175+) that these storms had. Any thoughts?

[Scorpion]

No.

[HURAKAN]

I remember a few years ago there was talk about classifying Mitch and Michelle as a new Cat 6 because of the amount of rain plus the extreme winds (175+) that these storms had. Any thoughts?

Michelle was a Cat. 4 of 135 mph.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Storms like Gilbert,Allen,1935 huricane,Camille should be cat6.

[Thunder44]

Are you saying they should have a new category for hurricanes? Because Cat 5 is just 156mph or more, there's no limit.

[ericinmia]

NO there isn't a cat6... cat5 is the highest.

The damage that is incurred exponential goes up with wind increases... so a 175 is MUCH MUCH worse than a 160.

But Cat5 encompases it all.
-Eric

[LSU2001]

NO cat 5 means total devastation so you better get out. It really does not matter if winds are 160 or 200 cause the destruction is so widespread.

I agree with eric that the wind pressure increases exponentially but how many times can a building be destroyed.
JMHO
TIm

[LSU2001]

Camile had very close to 200 mph winds at least at one point in her life. I cannot see how a Cat 6 would be needed unless you are talking about winds in excess of 250mph at the surface. Even then Cat 5 would work because it gives no upper limit. Remember cat1, cat2,cat3, cat4, cat5, is only a scale. If you read the definition of Cat 5 I really think it covers it.

inds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. Hurricane Mitch of 1998 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity over the western Caribbean. Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity and is one of the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclones of record.

Source:http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshs.shtml

[lurkerinthemidst]

Kevin_Cho wrote
But if there's like a hurricane with say...210 mph..that's gonna do a heck of alot more than 150. That's like..total devestation...or even higher winds, who knows.

All I can think of is the movie Twister - FINGER OF GOD!

That is just down right scary! It made my stomach sick just reading it. UGH

[crazycajuncane]

But if there's like a hurricane with say...210 mph..that's gonna do a heck of alot more than 150. That's like..total devestation...or even higher winds, who knows.

Yeah... I dare someone to stay with a Hurricane of 170+ mph at your door step. I guarentee it don't be there for long (your doorstep).

[dhweather]

NO there isn't a cat6... cat5 is the highest.

The damage that is incurred exponential goes up with wind increases... so a 175 is MUCH MUCH worse than a 160.

But Cat5 encompases it all.
-Eric

Right, but 200 is significantally worse than 175

I really wish some instruments had survived Camille so we would know
her true maximum winds.

[Tertius]

But if there's like a hurricane with say...210 mph..that's gonna do a heck of alot more than 150. That's like..total devestation...or even higher winds, who knows.

True, though there has never been a hurricane measured that had winds that strong. I believe the strongest on record worldwide was Typhhon Tip which formed in the Pacific in 1979. I had forgotten about that storm but it was fun to look up. It's size was just unbelievable, with TS force winds extending almost 700 miles from it's center. At it's peak it had maximum sustained winds of 190 MPH. Check it out: http://www.answers.com/topic/typhoon-tip
http://www.srh.weather.gov/srh/jetstrea ... cs/tip.htm

I think the strongest ever measured in the Atlantic was Gilbert with top winds around 175 MPH briefly. Someone correct me on that if I'm wrong.

[Derek Ortt]

FL keys hurricane when re-analysed will be the highest winds ever, bewteen 160-180KT

[gkrangers]

How can they determine the winds from so long ago without the modern observations we have now?

And this is like asking, "could there be an F6"?

[Tertius]

FL keys hurricane when re-analysed will be the highest winds ever, bewteen 160-180KT

Yep, that could well be, but it will still be just a best guess. I wish we could know for certain. For that matter, I wonder what hurricanes occured in the distant past, observed only by Native American tribes and long since forgotten? Our period of records on these things is actually quite short.

[GalvestonDuck]

I remember a few years ago there was talk about classifying Mitch and Michelle as a new Cat 6 because of the amount of rain plus the extreme winds (175+) that these storms had. Any thoughts?

Wasn't there a "Category 6" movie? No, wait...I'm thinking "10.0" the earthquake movie.

[gkrangers]

Actually I think it was called "10.5".

[Skywatch_NC]

Kinda like saying there's an F6 tornado

Fujita only goes F1 through F5.

[gkrangers]

Kinda like saying there's an F6 tornado

Fujita only goes F1 through F5.

Yeah, and the Saffer Simpson scale goes 1-5...so no, there can't be a Category 6, nor an F6 tornado. Unless they rewrote the scales.

[otowntiger]

The question is why would you even need a cat 6, when there are so few cat 5's why make a category that would never happen?