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MissKimmie · 36-40, F
It cannot be higher. Even if it becomes significantly more powerful than any previously seen, it would still have no further to go, unless they chose to change the scale itself. But as of now, it is impossible.
As it stands, 5 is reserved for the very most powerful hurricanes. However, it is important to note that most powerful does not inherently mean the most destructive. A Category None that is downgraded from Hurricane to Tropical Storm can do more harm to a seaside, underdeveloped or poorly developed area than a Category 4 would do to a well-built area. The categories do not speak to how destructive it is, or how well communities withstand the storm. So seeing as the categories simply judge how powerful it is, unless the Hurricane is labeled as the apocalypse rather than a Hurricane ranking, or they decide to change the overall scale itself (Which, of course, they could do- I think changing it to a 1-10 scale would be better, anyway), it is not currently possible for a hurricane to rank higher than 5. It would simply be ranked as a five, and noted as the most destructive hurricane in documented history.
Note that the scale is man-made. As such, it can also be changed, if it is so deemed.
As it stands, 5 is reserved for the very most powerful hurricanes. However, it is important to note that most powerful does not inherently mean the most destructive. A Category None that is downgraded from Hurricane to Tropical Storm can do more harm to a seaside, underdeveloped or poorly developed area than a Category 4 would do to a well-built area. The categories do not speak to how destructive it is, or how well communities withstand the storm. So seeing as the categories simply judge how powerful it is, unless the Hurricane is labeled as the apocalypse rather than a Hurricane ranking, or they decide to change the overall scale itself (Which, of course, they could do- I think changing it to a 1-10 scale would be better, anyway), it is not currently possible for a hurricane to rank higher than 5. It would simply be ranked as a five, and noted as the most destructive hurricane in documented history.
Note that the scale is man-made. As such, it can also be changed, if it is so deemed.