Wednesday, 7 February 2024

Blow It!

Hurricane strength is currently classified, 1-5, on the Saffir-Simpson scale of wind speed. Global heating is, however, putting extra energy into the planet's weather systems, making storms stronger. A report in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences consequently advocates adding a new category 6 for hurricanes (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/05/hurricanes-becoming-so-strong-that-new-category-needed-study-says). In the last decade, 5 storms have had sustained wind speeds of 192 mph (faster than a Ferrari) or higher. The report notes that hurricanes are getting more frequent and stronger. A modification to the Saffir-Simpson scale is needed, they feel, to accommodate this change. Category 6 hurricanes would be an order of magnitude more dangerous. Perhaps the new category would make this clearer to folk?
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