While we often read about how powerful storms are, those of us who haven’t experienced a Category 5 hurricane really can’t understand what it’s like to live through one.
The strength of hurricanes are categorized using the Saffir Simpson Scale.
Hurricanes feature low pressure systems, bringing rain and wind. Typically, the lower the pressure, the more unsettled a storm is. However, that’s not to say that all hurricanes with an area of extreme low central pressure will all be the same.
Patricia had a very low central pressure.
READ MORE: Canadians head home as flights from Puerto Vallarta resume after Hurricane Patricia
“Patricia’s estimated minimum central pressure of 880 millibars was also the lowest ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere, besting Hurricane Wilma’s 882 millibars in 2005 and Hurricane Gilbert’s 888 millibars in 1988; those storms both had maximum sustained winds of 185 mph,” said NASA research meteorologist Steve Lang. “For comparison, Hurricane Katrina, the costliest storm in U.S. history, had a minimum central pressure of 902 millibars and peak sustained winds of 175 mph.”
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Not only was Patricia’s central pressure low, but the storm had mind-blowing winds, topping off at 320 km/h, making it a solid Category 5.
Imagine your windiest day, perhaps wind gusts were close to 70 km/h? Walking in this wind can be burdensome. But in winds of 320 km/h, nothing can stand.
The wind howls at an almost deafening roar. Any buildings — if they can withstand the lashing of the winds — creak and groan.
“The sound I think was…the only way I can describe it was full spectrum cacophony,” Canadian storm chaser George Kourounis told Global News in his recollection of chasing Hurricane Katrina in 2005. “The low rumble of the building shaking; beyond that the sound of the rain and the wind, screeching, then on top of that, a layer of debris hits, glass shattering, and then the high-pitched whistle of wind through the wires. All combined it was like a symphony of destruction.”
The U.S. National Hurricane Center says this about Category 5 hurricanes. “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.”
So why didn’t we hear of more deaths and catastrophes with Patricia?
While Patricia made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane, its winds had dropped to 270 km/h when it hit land.
With fierce winds, heavy rains that triggered landslides, you might expect a to hear of hundreds if not thousands of casualties. But the Mexican death toll? Zero.
There are several factors that played a part, one of which was that Patricia made landfall in an area that wasn’t heavily populated. As well, the hurricane-force winds extended about 55 km from its centre, making it somewhat compact, though tropical-force winds extended out for 140 km. As well, the Mexican government is being lauded for its efforts to evacuate all affected areas.
But that’s not to say Patricia didn’t do damage.
Thousands were evacuated and homes and buildings sustained critical damage.
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