Will Irma Become a Category 6 Hurricane?

A post generating over 2 million views on Facebook claimed that Irma
could become a category 6 hurricane. How true is it?

MIAMI - September 05, 2017 - Hurricane Irma as of today is a Category 5 hurricane with 157+ mph winds that is advancing westward and causing a lot of worries from the Caribbean to the East Coast of the U.S.

Irma is forecast to strengthen even more. The National Hurricane Center's intensity forecast, which goes out five days, suggests Irma could remain a Category 5 hurricane as it closes in on the Lesser Antilles.

And there's the chance, though it's not in the official forecast at this stage, that Irma could get stronger and reach Category 5 status.
But there is chatter and speculation percolating that Irma could intensify even more and become a "Category 6" hurricane.

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Trouble is, there is no such thing as a Category 6 hurricane.

"There is no Category 6," said said Dennis Feltgen, the communications officer at the National Hurricane Center.

The National Hurricane Center classifies storms by their maximum sustained wind strength using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, Feltgen said.

A Category 1 hurricane has winds of 74 mph and above. Category 5 winds start at 157 mph.
And that's it. No Category 6.

"The top end of scale (Category 5) is reserved for a major hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 157 mph or higher," he said.

"Catastrophic damage will occur," he continued via email. "A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months. There is no Category 6."

But rumors abound about a Cat. 6

- AMC Media Concepts 2017