This is how the world ends: will we soon see category 6 hurricanes?

There is no such thing as a category 6 hurricane or tropical storm – yet. The highest level – the top of the scale for the most powerful, most devastating hurricane or tropical storm capable of destroying entire cities like New Orleans or New York – is a category 5 storm.

 A Noaa satellite handout image shows Hurricane Florence as
 it made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

Meteorologists and scientists never imagined that there would be a need for a category 6 storm, with winds that exceed 200 miles per hour on a sustained basis, sweeping away everything in its path. Until now, such a storm wasn’t possible, so there was no need for a new category above category 5.

Read the story by Jeff Nesbit from The Guardian - ”This is how the world ends: will we soon see category 6 hurricanes?”

Cyclone Kelvin blue alert issued as apocalyptic clouds bring heavy rainfall to Broome

Broome has had the first taste of the storm system expected to develop into the strongest cyclone of the season, with a blue alert issued for a tropical storm which has already caused widespread flooding.

A low-slung storm front approaches Cable Beach in Broome on Thursday.

The system is forecast to develop into Tropical Cyclone Kelvin, bringing wind gusts of up to 165 kilometres per hour and isolated rainfall of up to 500 millimetres.

The blue alert applies to people between Cape Leveque and De Grey in the Kimberley and Pilbara, including the tourist town of Broome, with a severe tropical cyclone likely to develop later today or tomorrow.

People in the district are being warned to prepare their properties and take shelter.

Read the ABC News story - “Cyclone Kelvin blue alert issued as apocalyptic clouds bring heavy rainfall to Broome.”

Philippines storm: At least 120 dead after tropical storm Tembin triggers flash flooding, landslides.

At least 120 people are dead and more than 160 missing after a tropical storm devastated the southern Philippines, unleashing flash flooding and setting off landslides.

Police officers help with rescue efforts, holding the hands
 and belongings of two women in rising floodwaters.

Most of the deaths from tropical storm Tembin were in the hard-hit provinces of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur and on the Zamboanga Peninsula, according to an initial government report on storm casualties.

Romina Marasigan, of the government's disaster response agency, earlier said authorities had reported at least 75 deaths were due to landslides and sudden surges of floodwaters, but added those initial reports needed to be confirmed.

An entire village was buried by a mudslide, according to reports.

Read the ABC News story - “Philippines storm: At least 120 dead after tropical storm Tembin triggers flash flooding, landslides.”

Hurricane Nate: US states on alert after storm leaves trail of destruction in Central America

Tropical Storm Nate has strengthened into a category one hurricane and is speeding towards the United States after killing at least 21 people in Central America.

Landslides have caused damage to towns and
roads, like this highway in Casa Mata, Costa Rica.

Forecasters said it was likely to strengthen over the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall near New Orleans.

Louisiana and Mississippi officials declared states of emergency and evacuations ahead of the hurricane's expected landfall on Saturday night local time.

Evacuations began at some offshore oil platforms in the Gulf.

Read the ABC News story - “Hurricane Nate: US states on alert after storm leaves trail of destruction in Central America.”