TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA: A self-claimed 'time traveller' on TikTok named Radiant Time Traveller has people worried claiming that a Category 6 hurricane will hit Florida and the Carolinas on September 4.
No matter how convincing the claims might seem, the Category 6 hurricane doesn’t fit on the Saffir–Simpson Scale used to rate storms even as scientists have argued over the years that a new category be announced.
How is a hurricane category measured?
A hurricane is measured on a scale called Saffir-Simpson. The scale is not based on windspeed but estimates potential damage caused by a hurricane.
It has a rating from one to five and was developed in 1971 by civil engineer Herbert Saffir and meteorologist Robert Simpson.
In 2005 after the Atlantic hurricane wrecked parts of Louisiana Gulf Coast, scientists began proposing the idea that storms surpassing wind speed over 175 or 180 mph be classified as Category 6, Pensacola News Journal reported, citing a 2006 news in ABC.
On August 10, 2017, when Category 5 Hurricane Irma's highest winds reached 185 mph, scientists reportedly revisited the idea.
Scientists have proposed the idea that storms be scaled under Category 6
Michael Mann, director of Penn State University's Earth System Science Center, explained on CBS News that the new category could better describe the strength of 200mph storms besides noting the impact of climate change.
However, Robert Homer Simpson the codeveloper of the scale, argued more categories were needed.
In an interview in 1991, Simpson elaborated his argument when asked if he thought hurricane windspeeds could become a category six or seven.
"I think that it's immaterial what will happen with winds stronger than 156 miles per hour. That's the reason why we didn't try to go any higher than that anyway," he said at the time.
Are Category 6 hurricanes real?
Based on the above information, it is evident that there is no such thing as Category 6 hurricane.
That scale only goes up to five which describes winds greater than 155 mph that sit within the scale without needing to expand it.
The TikToker has not just made claims about hurricanes but even said that around 10 to 20 people would be shown the afterlife and that there will be an alien attack.
@radianttimetraveler September is for them… #fyp #foryou #timetravel #timetraveler #radianttime #viral #xyzbca #entertainment ♬ Black Order - SoundridemusicWhat are the categories of storms?
Category 1 storms range between 74-95 mph and can cause damage to roofs and siding, uproot shallow-rooted trees and affect the power supply.
Category 2 storms sustain wind speeds between 96-110 mph and can cause extensive damage.
Category 3 hurricanes and onwards are described as major hurricanes with winds speeds ranging between 111-129 mph it can cause devastating damage.
Category 4 hurricanes have sustained wind speeds between 130-156 mph and can cause catastrophic damages. Roofs to structures can be damaged, and trees and electric poles can get uprooted.
Category 5 hurricanes have sustained wind speeds of 157 mph or higher. Framed homes will be destroyed with total roof failure and wall collapse can occur.
