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With more severe weather due to climate change, a new hurricane category may be necessary to keep up

When meteorologists began using the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale to measure hurricane intensity in the 1970s, a Category 5 storm represented oblivion. Such a cyclone, with sustained winds of at least 157 mph, could flatten any structure of the era, so there was no reason to give the most ferocious tier of hurricanes an upper bound.

For decades, scientists have warned about the imminent catastrophic impacts that a rapidly changing ocean will have on coral reefs around the world.

Iconic elkhorn and staghorn corals took the heaviest losses, and researchers say they are at risk of becoming “functionally extinct” in the Florida Reef.

Record-high ocean temperatures could affect peak hurricane season.