Superstorm Melissa, which devastated Jamaica and Cuba last October, is causing scientists to question: Is the Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale still enough to measure the strength of current storms?
Storm forecasters say that storms that are getting stronger, intensifying faster and moving faster are becoming a new normal, mainly caused by human-caused climate change.
Previously, the Saffir-Simpson scale had a maximum speed of level 5, with maximum sustained winds of about 252 km/h. However, superstorm Melissa and some other recent storms have nearly reached level 5, if they have a level 6 scale, they will be classified there.
The Category 6 storm is expected to bring maximum sustained winds of up to 308 km/h, causing damage far beyond the endurance of works designed for Category 5.
Experts such as Dr. Michael Mann (University of Pennsylvania) believe that super typhoons are becoming a "new normal" and need to review the way storms are classified.
Dr Katharine Hayhoe (The Nature Conservancy) emphasized the need to take into account the impact of rain and floods, because they account for the majority of economic damage caused by storms.
Superstorm Melissa is a typical example: Research from Imperial College London shows that Melissa is one of the fastest intensifying storms of all time. Climate change has made Shelter four times more likely and increase winds by 18 km/h.
Warming ocean waters are the cause. Warmer seas have added about 10 mph to the intensity of Shelter, pushing it to nearly 15 mph - the ceiling for a Category 5 storm.
Some experts are still arguing about adding a Category 6 status, worrying that it will be difficult to compare the new storm with historical storms. However, reality shows that Shelter and upcoming storms will be more intense than anything before, directly threatening people, homes and coastal infrastructure.
It is important to take action to cut greenhouse gases now, which could still limit the level of storm devastation in the future. Melissa and other super typhoons are a warning: The era of super typhoons has arrived, and humanity must prepare to deal with the increasingly intense forces of nature.
