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(855) 420-9447The discussion around category 6 hurricane wind speeds and damages currently consists of proposals and theories, not accepted categories. You’ve probably heard of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which tops out at category five. However, a new publication proposes that the scale must change to reflect the strengthening nature of tropical cyclones. A category 6 rating would be the new peak of the scale.
According to the National Hurricane Center, there’s no official “Category 6” for hurricanes. However, some scientists argue that the recurrence of intense storms with sustained wind speeds over 192 mph since 2013 justifies adding this proposed category to better reflect their damage potential.
While the notion of a category six hurricane remains unofficial, new data may prompt a significant change in how we classify and react to these extreme weather events.
The Saffir-Simpson scale stops at category 5. Therefore, according to currently accepted meteorological classifications, there hasn’t been a category 6 hurricane for one simple reason: no such category exists. Not officially, anyway.
According to a paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) by Michael Wehner of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Dr. James Kossin of the First Street Foundation, the scale is ready for an update. This is a response to increasing hurricane intensity. In the last 10 years, several major hurricanes generated maximum sustained winds above 190 MPH.
The information presented in the publication suggests a category 6 hurricane would produce the following wind speeds.
| Meters per Second (m/s) | >86 |
| Miles per Hour (mph) | >192 |
| Knots (kn) | >167 |
| Kilometers per Hour (kph) | >309 |
Keep in mind that the National Weather Service (NWS) calculates sustained wind speed based on an average of speeds within a given time span. This means occasional gusts well in excess of 200 MPH can occur in a proposed category 6 tropical cyclone. But is such a storm even worth worrying about?
They’re not only possible: they’ve already occurred.
One of the storms that prompted this proposal is Super Typhoon Haiyan, which struck Southeast Asia in November 2013. Haiyan caused millions of dollars worth of devastation in the region. It displaced entire villages and caused over 6,300 known deaths. Over a thousand people are still considered missing years after it occurred.
The difference between a typhoon and hurricane is all about location. Haiyan spawned in the western Pacific Ocean, earning it the typhoon classification. This brutal storm generated sustained winds of 195 MPH, with gusts up to 240 miles per hour.
For context, the most powerful tornadoes are classified as F5 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. F5 tornadoes produce gusts in excess of 200 MPH. They also tend to exhaust their fury over a small area in about 10 minutes on average. On the other hand, hurricanes can impact several states, countries, and territories over a course of days.
Haiyan set many records for intensity at the time. Hurricane Patricia beat Haiyan’s wind speed record in 2015, producing sustained winds of 215 MPH. Patricia caused nearly half a billion dollars worth of damage to parts of Mexico before dissipating. Unfortunately, these storms aren’t alone in their freakish power.
The publication goes on to three name three additional storms, for a total of five examples.
| Storm Name | Max Sustained Winds | Estimated Damages in USD |
| Typhoon Haiyan (2013) | 195 MPH | 2.98 billion |
| Hurricane Patricia (2015) | 215 MPH | 463 million |
| Typhoon Meranti (2016) | 195 MPH | 4.79 billion |
| Typhoon Goni (2020) | 195 MPH | 1.02 billion |
| Typhoon Surigae (2021) | 196 MPH | 10.5 million |
You might have noticed that the only hurricane on this list is Patricia, a Pacific storm that primarily affected Mexico. The National Hurricane center hasn’t recorded an Atlantic hurricane with category 6 potential. In fact, only a small handful of category 5 hurricanes have made U.S. landfall since 1935.
The fact that such a storm hasn’t hit the east coast of the United States yet doesn’t mean that one can’t. Anyone who’s experienced a hurricane is familiar with the damage even a minor one can cause. If a category 6 storm were to hit the USA, the result would likely be catastrophic damage rivaling that caused by 2005’s Hurricane Katrina.
A hurricane can last for days, affect multiple areas in its path, and create floods that do more long-term damage than even the most destructive twisters. Add wind speeds that could make a tornado blush, and it’s not hard to see why some scientists are asking for a sixth category.
Hurricane damage from category 6 storms would probably look like a more intense version of damage from category 5 storms. These include the following.
The message should be clear for those in hurricane-prone areas. Even if category 6 isn’t official, qualifying storms have occurred. Climate change and rising ocean temperatures mean the likelihood of these hurricanes will only increase in the future.
Business owners in areas where hurricanes are known to strike must prepare for the increasing severity of summer storms. Even if the category doesn’t become official, owners should take this as a reminder to prepare for the worst. That’s where we come in.
Emergency Management Logistics can work with your business to establish alternate supply routes and logistic services, minimizing business interruptions and reducing financial losses.
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The right preparation and partnerships can make all the difference in the world for your business when disaster strikes. Call us at (855) 420-9447 or contact our expert team online. We have the knowledge and resources to help your business ride out storms of any strength.