By Leah Burdick
Scientists have announced a new possible classification for hurricanes– A category 6. This new study announced the first week of Feb., which creates alarming fear about what this new storm can do to Florida.
As hurricanes strengthen due to rising temperatures, they create more destructive and detrimental aftermaths. Hurricanes need heat to create a more intensified storm. As the temperatures of the Earth get warmer, the ocean creates more heat energy to fuel the storm. This added heat is an accelerator.
Florida has seen what Category 4 Hurricane Ian has done to the West Coast and other states. What does this mean for the next Hurricane season? Meteorologists in Tampa Bay are concerned about how Florida will handle a powerful storm like this.
The New Category 6 is important for the Tampa community to be aware of. A category 6 hurricane will consist of 192 mph winds or greater. This could create a higher risk for more intense storm surges and be more destructive.
According to WFLA 8, the National Academy of Sciences stated: “We find that a number of recent storms have already achieved this hypothetical Category 6 intensity and based on multiple independent lines of evidence examining the highest simulated and potential peak wind speeds, more such storms are projected as the climate continues to warm.”
Scientists have also said there are already Category 6 storms in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. The Gulf of Mexico has warmed around 2°F since 1980. WFLA 8 also stated that according to NOAA, a storm with winds more than 190mph has 4x the damage potential. This can result in recovery costs of up to a trillion dollars.
When the West Coast faced Hurricane Ian (Cat. 4), it resulted in $113 billion in damages. Some cities and towns, like Fort Myers, are still trying to recover from the hurricane. It has now been two years since, and there was Hurricane Idalia just last year in 2023.
Dr. Michael Wehner and Dr. Jim Kossin — both leading researchers at the intersection of hurricane and climate change research — claim that climate change is to blame for hurricanes being able to reach 192 mph or greater.
Wehner told meteorologist and climate specialist Jeff Berardelli that the risk of growth will always be there as the climate continues to warm. Wehner also advised Berardelli to inform his viewers and followers that climate change increased the risk of intense hurricanes.
With hurricane season starting in June, students and residents of the Tampa community should start taking precautions and be prepared for what might come. Educating oneself on evacuation routes and supply kits and signing up with AlertTampa for more information to stay updated and connected during the hurricanes.
This alarming situation will not go away, but researching how to do your part in slowing down the Earth’s temperature could potentially slow the strengthening of these hurricanes. Until a way to prevent the ocean from heating is proposed, stay safe in Tampa Bay.