Unregistered User
(Unregistered)
Tue Jun 07 2005 08:58 PM
Category Five Hurricanes

I think Charley might have reached category five hurricane before landfall. In ten years I think Charley will be upgraded to a category five like Andrew,because Charley was stronger than what the winds of Andrew were thought to be before 2002.

Clark
(Meteorologist)
Tue Jun 07 2005 10:47 PM
Re: Category Five Hurricanes

Andrew's winds at landfall were previously estimated to be comparable to the estimates of Charley's winds at landfall. Both were very small, compact storms with a narrow swath of very intense devestation. Charley was intensifying up until landfall, yes, but as of yet there is no data to suggest it was any stronger than noted in the preliminary report: category four.

The data used to upgrade Andrew is much more readily accessible today and, in many cases, is used in real-time in forecasting and analyzing storms. Our knowledge of storm structure is greater than it was in 1992 as well. These two facts further combine to suggest that, while a very intense storm, Charley will not likely ever be upgraded to a category five hurricane.

And with such storms and topics, I'm not sure that the grinning icon is the appropriate icon.


Unregistered User
(Unregistered)
Sun Jun 12 2005 03:27 PM
Re: Category Five Hurricanes

I don't know if this ammounts to much, but my family went through the eye of both, and I can personaly attest that Andrew caused more extensive damage, specificaly when considering like structures. While demographics have alot to do with it, just look at the numbers.


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