Hurricane Milton’s astonishing transformation from a Category 2 to a Category 5 storm within hours has raised questions about whether it could reach the level of a hypothetical Category 6. The storm, which began as a 60-mph tropical storm on Sunday morning, surged to a powerful 180-mph Category 5 hurricane by Monday, an extraordinary increase of 130 mph in just 36 hours. Experts are now contemplating whether the current system for categorizing hurricanes is sufficient.

Currently, the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale caps hurricane categories at 5, with no official Category 6 designation. This scale, in use since the 1970s, was designed to measure the potential damage from hurricanes based on their wind speeds. Category 5 represents storms with winds exceeding 157 mph, and at these speeds, the damage is already catastrophic, regardless of the precise wind velocity. But Milton’s explosive intensification has sparked conversations about whether the scale should be updated to reflect even stronger storms.

Scientists Michael Wehner and Jim Kossin have studied whether the increasing intensity of hurricanes, fueled by warming oceans, could justify adding a Category 6. According to their research, only five hurricanes and typhoons have reached wind speeds of 192 mph since 1980. While they aren’t formally advocating for a Category 6, they argue that the discussion is essential as climate change contributes to more extreme weather events, particularly in regions like the Gulf of Mexico, Southeast Asia, and the Philippines.

Despite Milton’s potential to reach this unprecedented level, other experts caution against focusing solely on wind speeds. They argue that storm surge, flooding, and inland impacts can cause devastating damage, regardless of a hurricane’s wind category. This was evident during Hurricane Helene, which caused widespread destruction even after it had weakened to a tropical storm by the time it reached the Carolinas.

The ongoing debate about whether to introduce a Category 6 highlights the broader issue of how to communicate the growing risks of extreme weather in a warming world. While the Saffir-Simpson scale remains an essential tool for tracking wind speeds, many scientists believe it must be adapted to reflect the full range of a hurricane’s potential impacts as storms like Hurricane Milton become more common. As Milton bears down on areas of the Florida Peninsula still recovering from past storms, the need for clearer communication and better preparedness becomes ever more urgent.