wind speeds

In Texas, a powerful combination of dry land and high winds is fueling wildfires

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Abnormally warm temperatures, dry grass and a sudden windy cold front combined to create conditions for the devastating wildfires that have raged in parts of Texas this week. The winds that swept wildfires across the Texas Panhandle struck at the perfect time of day for destruction, “like a hurricane making landfall at high tide,” Texas … Read more

Does the hurricane scale require a category 6? New research fuels the debate

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If global temperatures continue to increase, causing storms more intenseSome researchers say the Saffir-Simpson scale, which measures a hurricane’s wind speeds, does not adequately address the dangers associated with extreme storms. In a new study, scientists examined a hypothetical expansion of the scale to include a category 6, and found that such a designation could … Read more