It’s hurricane season for the East Coast of the USA, and, as typical, the Southeast is taking the brunt of latest storms. Now that Hurricane Helene has handed, Florida is bracing for Hurricane Milton. After the incoming hurricane intensified to the very best class, storm watchers are questioning how excessive the class scale goes.

Hurricane Milton Strengthens to a Class 5

On October 7, Hurricane Milton had strengthened right into a Class 3, then shortly escalated to a Class 4 storm. Simply hours later, it was labeled as a Class 5 by the Nationwide Hurricane Heart (NHC).

“MILTON RAPIDLY INTENSIFIES INTO A CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE,” the NHC tweeted. “Information from an Air Pressure Reserve Hurricane Hunter plane point out that Milton has strengthened to a class 5. The max sustained winds are estimated to be 160 mph with larger gusts.”

Florida is now below a state of emergency, and a number of counties have been issued evacuation orders. Furthermore, sure Orlando points of interest, similar to Walt Disney World and Common Studios Resort, are monitoring the hurricane.

…MILTON RAPIDLY INTENSIFIES INTO A CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE…

Information from an Air Pressure Reserve Hurricane Hunter plane point out that Milton has strengthened to a class 5. The max sustained winds are estimated to be 160 mph with larger gusts. https://t.co/dv1LkCViaN pic.twitter.com/zUwi2CNJhi

— Nationwide Hurricane Heart (@NWSNHC) October 7, 2024

Is There a Class 6 Hurricane?

There is no such thing as a such factor as a Class 6 hurricane, regardless of on-line rumors. Dramatizations of inclement climate have been created over time, such because the catastrophe miniseries Class 7: The Finish of the World.

What Is the Highest Hurricane Class?

The very best class hurricane is a Class 5, based on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Per the Nationwide Climate Service (NWS), the size from 1 to five measures wind velocity.

“This scale estimates potential property harm,” the NWS’ web site reads. “Hurricanes reaching Class 3 and better are thought of main hurricanes due to their potential for important lack of life and harm.”

A Class 1 storm has winds between 74 to 95 miles per hour, whereas a Class 2 has winds starting from 96 to 110 miles per hour. A Class 3 hurricane could have winds between 111 to 129 miles per hour, and a Class 4 is measured at 130 to 156 miles per hour.

A Class 5 hurricane has winds of 157 miles per hour or larger. One of the harmful Class 5 storms to hit Florida was in 1992 throughout Hurricane Andrew.