Super Hurricane Emily? Accuweather Innovative Ideas?!?!?

[MWatkins]

Actually, as Aslkahuna mentioned, "Super" is a military term for 130kt or greater. In several military documents, they refer to storms in the Atlantic basin as Super Hurricanes if they are 130kt or greater. Dennis and Emily both fit the super hurricane category, based on the US military guidelines. Regardless, the NHC, which is the official RSMC, does not use that term.

Thanks for the clairification senorpepr...I should be more careful not to apply a military definition and then suggest it's some sort of scale for the WPAC basin...

As is mentioned above...it's just a bad graphic...and I am up way past my bedtime.

MW

[senorpepr]

Thanks for the clairification senorpepr...I should be more careful not to apply a military definition and then suggest it's some sort of scale for the WPAC basin...

As is mentioned above...it's just a bad graphic...and I am up way past my bedtime.

MW

Ah... that happens, Mike. I agree, bad graphic. Now, go get some sleep.

[Windy]

I have heard that terminology used for cat 5 hurricanes

But is not official, and they use it as if it were.

True, but since when does the government have sole control of terminology? If they want to call it a super hurricane, hey, that's their choice. If people adopt it then it becomes part of the terminology.

Personally, I like the idea of having the term "super hurricane" describe extraordinary storms. It certainly conveys the correct "get the hell out of the way" message that such a storm requires.

[Aslkahuna]

There's a potential confusion factor though if you have too many terms floating around. The KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle is a good one to stay with when dealing with Joe Sixpack.

Steve