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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.
Currently the Saffir-Simpson scale stops at Category 5, which are storms with winds of 157 mph or greater.
Stronger and more destructive hurricanes fueled by climate change may require a rethinking of how storms are classified, according to a new study that suggests adding a Category 6 for ranking them to better convey damaging wind speeds.
A Category 6 hurricane would be one with sustained winds of more than 192 mph.
Climate change is making hurricanes so powerful and destructive that some scientists believe we need a new category to classify these worst-of-the-worst storms.