As the United States prepares for another possibly devastating storm, Hurricane Milton is shaping up to be an extraordinary natural force.
Hurricane Milton has raised major fears, following Hurricane Helene’s recent devastation of Florida’s Big Bend region.
Meteorologists and climate experts are expressing concern about the storm’s force. With the hurricane presently ranked as one of the most powerful on record, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) has released urgent warnings.
Hurricane Milton, first classified as a Category Five storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, reached wind speeds of 180 mph. This greatly surpasses the usual Category Five limit of 157 mph.
The scale, which classifies Category Five hurricanes as capable of producing “catastrophic damage,” is under review. Experts are currently reassessing whether this technology is enough for measuring storms of this size.
Jim Kossin, a retired federal scientist and advisor to the First Street Foundation, expressed his worry. Speaking with ‘USA Today’, he stressed that the “open-ended” character of the Category Five designation is worrisome.
“The category is becoming more and more inadequate with time,” she remarked. “Climate change is creating more and more of these unprecedented intensities.”
Kossin and Michael Wehner, a climate scientist, cooperated on a paper released earlier this year. They considered creating a “hypothetical Category Six” with a minimum wind speed of 192 mph.
They examined storm data going back to 1980. Several storms were found as meeting or exceeding the hypothetical criteria.
“A number of recent storms have already achieved this hypothetical Category Six intensity,” according to the analysis. The findings show that as the climate warms, more of these storms will occur.
However, not all experts support the idea of a new category. Fox Weather meteorologist Mike Rawlins informed the ‘New York Post’ that he is unaware of any new scales being developed at this time.
While the concept of a Category Six is appealing, Rawlins believes the process is complex. He underlined that changing the classification system would be a time-consuming process.
The argument also highlights other drawbacks of the Saffir-Simpson scale. The scale is largely concerned with wind speeds, neglecting to account for threats such as storm surges and flooding.
These elements can often be more deadly than wind, complicating risk assessment. Professor Michael E. Mann has advocated for a more comprehensive method to assessing storm threats.
Mann used social media to campaign for the inclusion of a Category Six. “A compelling argument has been made for a hurricane with sustained winds of 192 mph or greater,” he said on Twitter.
There has been speculation over the severity of Hurricane Milton. Some scientists believe the storm may have briefly exceeded the 192 mph barrier.
If proven, this would put it in the hypothetical Category Six area. Professor Mann intimated on Twitter that followers should “stay tuned” for updates.
As Hurricane Milton strengthens, its unpredictable nature raises concerns. Experts believe that when storms become more intense due to climate change, hurricane classifications may need to be reevaluated.
For the time being, talks about how to appropriately disclose dangers are ongoing. Whether or not a new category arises, experts believe that preparation is essential.
As the world experiences more extreme weather occurrences, the stakes become higher than ever. What happens in the future will determine whether a new category is possible.
Feature Image Credit: (Canvapro)
