Hurricane Melissa Becomes Category 5 Understanding Hurricane Categories

• Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a Category 5 storm , packing sustained winds of 160 mph (257 km/h) as it moves across the Caribbean , threatening Jamaica and nearby islands . The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned of flash floods, storm surges, and widespread power outages , marking it as one of the strongest storms in recent years.

How Hurricanes Form

• Hurricanes develop over warm ocean waters above 26.5°C , where rising moist air creates a low-pressure system that fuels continuous wind circulation. When wind speeds exceed 74 mph (120 km/h) , the storm is officially classified as a hurricane .

Hurricanes, Cyclones, and Typhoons

These are the same type of storm , named differently by region:

• Hurricanes: North Atlantic & Northeast Pacific

• Cyclones: South Pacific & Indian Ocean

• Typhoons: Northwest Pacific

They rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis effect .

The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale

Hurricanes are ranked from Category 1 to 5 based on sustained wind speeds:

• Category 1 (74–95 mph): Minor damage

• Category 2 (96–110 mph): Moderate to extensive damage

• Category 3 (111–129 mph): Major damage

• Category 4 (130–156 mph): Severe structural destruction

• Category 5 (157 mph+): Catastrophic devastation

Melissa’s Category 5 status represents the highest intensity, capable of widespread destruction and long-term uninhabitability.

Exam-Oriented Facts

• Category 5 = Winds over 157 mph (252 km/h)

• Hurricanes form above 26.5°C (80°F) sea temperatures

• Scale: Category 1–5 (Saffir–Simpson)

• Names vary by region but describe the same phenomenon

The Debate on a “Category 6”

As global warming intensifies storms, experts are debating whether a Category 6 should be added to the scale to classify super-intense hurricanes with winds above 190 mph.