Hurricane Irma

[bersaguy]

By the looks of things Irma looks like it's gonna be a bigger hit the Harvey!!! Irma just reached winds of 185 MPH and is a Catagory 5 and heading straight for Florida and may even hit in Gulf again if it keeps tracking in direction it is at present time.I guess we might as well get ready for a bunch more rain here in Tennessee!!!! Stock up now folks...............JMHO

[Sam1]

Heard something in TV a bit ago that Irma may turn into a cat 6 hurricane.  Was a bit surprised coming from a meteorologist, since he should've known that there's no such thing as category 6 for hurricanes

[MP5_Rizzo]

48 minutes ago, Sam1 said:

Was a bit surprised coming from a meteorologist, since he should've known that there's no such thing as category 6 for hurricanes

He probably had his Beats headphones turned up to 11 one too many times and can't remember his meteorological school learnin'

 

But then I found this.

And This.

Hurricanes are categorized by several methods, the most well known being the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. The Saffir-Simpson scale, developed in 1969, is based on the wind speed of the hurricane. The various categories are listed below in their traditional form:

Category 1: 74 to 95 mph
Category 2: 96-110 mph
Category 3: 111-130 mph
Category 4: 131-155 mph
Category 5: greater than or equal to 156 mph

The amount of damage between each category does not increase linearly. Each increase in category greatly increases the damage potential. The original scale included no Category 6 hurricane. Robert Simpson has stated that there was no reason to include an additional category because the damage would be severe no matter the wind speed over 155 mph. Improvements in building engineering over the past roughly 35-40 years may have changed that dynamic and might necessitate the addition of a category 6 hurricane.

In our view, if the Saffir-Simpson scale were adjusted to include another category, it would likely be as follows:

Category 1 hurricane: 74 to 95 mph
Category 2 hurricane: 96-110 mph
Category 3 hurricane: 111-130 mph
Category 4 hurricane: 131-155 mph
Category 5 hurricane: 156-175 mph
Category 6 hurricane: greater than or equal to 176 mph

The current Saffir-Simpson scale has the following wind speed bands for its categories:

Category 1: 21 mph band
Category 2: 14 mph band
Category 3: 19 mph band
Category 4: 24 mph band
Category 5: unlimited band since there is no upper limit besides atmospheric limitations

A Category 5 band would likely be a 19 or 24 mph band and therefore a category 6 hurricane would have winds greater than or equal to 176 mph (or 181 mph). The 176 mph figure seems to make the most sense based on wind speeds and engineering.

On a related note, the question has come about, what about a storm that has winds of 95.5 mph or 110.5 mph or 131.5 mph or 155.5 mph etc? It would seem that the scale does not provide for those wind speeds. A continuous mathematical restatement of the Saffir-Simpson Scale should be made with the addition of an additional category.

The Saffir-Simpson scale should be restated as:

Category 1 Hurricane: 74 to 95 mph
Category 2 Hurricane: > 95 to 110 mph
Category 3 Hurricane: > 110 to 130 mph
Category 4 Hurricane: > 130 to 155 mph
Category 5 Hurricane: greater than 155 mph

Or, alternatively:

Category 1 Hurricane: 74 to less than 96 mph
Category 2 Hurricane: 96 mph to less than 111 mph
Category 3 Hurricane: 111 mph to less than 131 mph
Category 4 Hurricane: 131 mph to less than 156 mph
Category 5 Hurricane: 156 mph or greater

Or with an additional category:

Category 5 Hurricane: > 155 to less than 175 mph
Category 6 Hurricane: 175 mph or greater

or alternatively,

Category 5 Hurricane: 156 mph to less than 176 mph
Category 6 Hurricane: 176 mph or greater

Precision is important in the sciences and hurricane forecasting is nothing if not a science. Likewise taxonomies assist in the classification and therefore the study of any phenomenon. Our view is that the Saffir-Simpson scale has a few minor areas that need correction.

Christian H F Riley

For more information on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, see here. And the NHC/NOAA page here.

 

Edited September 5, 2017 by MP5_Rizzo

[Randall53]

    TMI

Edited September 5, 2017 by Randall53

[Ugly]

Mandatory evacuation in the Keys, hope it doesn't wipe them off the map, it is a nice place to visit

[MacGyver]

The takeaway on "Category 6" is probably more relevant to south Florida than it is in the Caribbean islands it's about to hit first.  For south Florida - the impact of a storm of this size would be devastating in both damage from the wind and the storm surge and flooding that is sure to follow.

But, that's in the US, with modern building codes - and those in south Florida have been strengthened over the years to try to lessen wind damage from storms like this.  In places like Cuba, Haiti and most of the leeward islands it would all but wipe them off the map.

[Sam1]

1 hour ago, Randall53 said:

    TMI

Yeah, I stopped reading after the third line lol.  Start calling him Mr.Technical_MP5_Rizzo  

[bersaguy]

I have a feeling that Irma is going to give all the Island Countries a complete make over and not for the better. A catagory 4 hit Houston and it changed the landscape of Texas so these Islands going up against a catagory 6 it is anybodys guess what will be left. I do hope that people in Florida do listen and vacant so all the rescues that were needed in Texas will not be needed as much. I will never understand why people think they can ride out a storm like these. I would have been packing up and getting out long before the storm made land. What ever is left afterwards will or won't still be there when you get back home. At least you, your family and your pets will be safe.........JMHO

[Wingshooter]

3 minutes ago, bersaguy said:

I have a feeling that Irma is going to give all the Island Countries a complete make over and not for the better. A catagory 4 hit Houston and it changed the landscape of Texas so these Islands going up against a catagory 6 it is anybodys guess what will be left. I do hope that people in Florida do listen and vacant so all the rescues that were needed in Texas will not be needed as much. I will never understand why people think they can ride out a storm like these. I would have been packing up and getting out long before the storm made land. What ever is left afterwards will or won't still be there when you get back home. At least you, your family and your pets will be safe.........JMHO

 Trying to convince my bro and his family to head up here before it hits.

[bersaguy]

2 minutes ago, Wingshooter said:

 Trying to convince my bro and his family to head up here before it hits.

I hope he is listening to you!!!!

[MP5_Rizzo]

May be a 1,2,3 punch.  Tropical storm Jose is following Irma and building.

[bersaguy]

Well the National Weather Service says the peak season for hurricanes peaks on September 12th so I guess Mother Nature is going to try and make the best of the next 7days to make up for the very mild season we had last year............jmho

[Sam1]

31 minutes ago, Wingshooter said:

 Trying to convince my bro and his family to head up here before it hits.

After seeing Harvey just last week, you would think it's a no-brainer.

[Sam1]

27 minutes ago, MP5_Rizzo said:

May be a 1,2,3 punch.  Tropical storm Jose is following Irma and building.

 

good grief!

[peejman]

2 hours ago, Randall53 said:

    TMI

 

1 hour ago, Sam1 said:

Yeah, I stopped reading after the third line lol.  Start calling him Mr.Technical_MP5_Rizzo  

I'm nerdy and read the whole thing. And it makes sense. 

 

 

2 hours ago, MP5_Rizzo said:

He probably had his Beats headphones turned up to 11 one too many times and can't remember his meteorological school learnin'

 

But is exactly what came to mind when I read category 6.  

[monkeylizard]

1 hour ago, MP5_Rizzo said:

May be a 1,2,3 punch.  Tropical storm Jose is following Irma and building.

And look to the left....a depression building in the western Gulf that could develop over the next couple of days.

[bersaguy]

4 minutes ago, monkeylizard said:

And look to the left....a depression building in the western Gulf that could develop over the next couple of days.

The national Weather Service says that one is going to slam Mexico and probably do a Harvey and make a U turn and hit Mexico again but it is not expected to impact Texas.

[AuEagle]

Virgin Island Gov. orders private guns & ammunition confiscated. I'm sure for the common good or the children.

 

breitbart:http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/09/05/gov-virgins-islands-orders-seizure-privately-owned-guns-ammo-ahead-hurricane/

Edited September 6, 2017 by AuEagle

[Sam1]

5 hours ago, AuEagle said:

Virgin Island Gov. orders private guns & ammunition confiscated. I'm sure for the common good or the children.

 

breitbart:http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/09/05/gov-virgins-islands-orders-seizure-privately-owned-guns-ammo-ahead-hurricane/

That's a great way to start a war before a hurricane hits.

Edited September 6, 2017 by Sam1