CATEGORY 5

Anticipation builds in as students wait for the first confetti explosion, which signals UM’s first three-pointer of the game. This is some of the excitement that the passionate UM student section, “The Eye” brings to every women’s and men’s basketball game. “The Eye,” previously known as “Storm Surge” before Category 5 rebranded the concept, brings the energy of basketball games to a variety of other sports. “We wanted to be even louder in the second half.”Win or lose, “The Eye” hopes to bring the energy this basketball season. Students can follow Category 5 on Instagram @um_category5 and Twitter @UM_Category5 to catch any important updates and information.

The urge to hunker down, and sometimes get together, is both psychological and circumstantial.

With Hurricane Ian drawing closer to a Category 5 storm. President Joe Biden detailed his administration’s efforts to prepare for the storm and warned residents to heed warnings from officials.

Other hurricanes have been costlier and deadlier, but only a few have made landfall in the U.S. as Category 5.

It didn't take long for Hurricane Ian to unleash its wrath on Florida's power grids.

Several streets, neighborhoods and local businesses in Cooper City sustained extensive damage Tuesday night, and the damage is continuing Wednesday as Hurricane Ian draws closer to a Category 5 storm.

Hurricane Ian is currently hitting the Gulf Coast of Florida after strengthening to a Category 4 storm before making landfall, possibly near Port Charlotte.

Such massive storms are fairly rare, and it's even more rare for them to make landfall. NOAA says that for such storms, "catastrophic damage will occur" with electricity outages "for weeks or months."

There are many ways to categorize a hurricane. The storm’s central pressure is one way. The height of its storm surge is another. How much rain it drops is another. And, of course, the strength of its wind is another. But what causes a hurricane to strengthen or weaken? The answer is simple enough, but multifaceted.

Central Florida, including Gainesville and the University of Florida campus, is in the direct path of Hurricane Ian. A hurricane warning. is in effect and damaging winds, flooding rains and possible tornadoes are expected. Here's the latest forecast map showing the track and timing of the storm.

A Category 5 hurricane has winds of 157 mph or higher. These are the only four hurricanes in the history of the U.S. that have made landfall at that level.

A Category 5 hurricane has winds of 157 mph or higher. These are the only four hurricanes in the history of the U.S. that have made landfall at that level.

The Tampa Bay area, including St. Petersburg and Clearwater, are under hurricane warnings as Hurricane Ian approaches landfall south of the region near Port Charlotte. The storm is near Category 5 strength and widespread, potentially catastrophic damage is likely in the warning zone. Here's the latest forecast map.

Hurricane Ian is expected to have catastrophic and widespread impacts as it approaches Florida's west coast near Category 5 strength on Wednesday. Here's the latest forecast map including the so-called spaghetti models.

Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified off Florida's southwest coast Wednesday morning, gaining top winds of 155 mph, just short of the most-dangerous Category 5 status.

In ominous tones, a documentary narrator describes the devastation wrought on the Tampa Bay, Fla. area by “Phoenix,” a tropical storm that grew into a Category 5 hurricane. Phoenix was imaginary, part of a 2009 government preparation exercise for a killer hurricane dubbed Project Phoenix — an exercise updated in 2020 focusing on small business recovery. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Florida Department of Emergency Management sponsored the 2009 simulation to identify gaps in local emergency planning and figure out responses across jurisdictions, Randy Deshazo, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council chief of staff, said Tuesday in an email.

A Category 5 storm in Tampa Bay could produce a 26-foot flood and kill up to 2,000 people, according to Vox.

Five years on, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are still rebuilding and repairing after hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Rev. Matthew Gomez has been praying for the teenage girl who died after a recent boat crash in the Florida Keys. He spoke to students and teachers during a service on Friday afternoon in Miami-Dade County.

With the Miami Hurricanes’ football season rapidly approaching, fans are already gearing up for what is sure to be an eventful season. The Hurricanes will kick-off their season at Hard Rock Stadium against Bethune-Cookman at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 3. Fan Zone is hosted by the Division of Student Affairs, the Department of Student Activities & Student Organizations, Student Government and Category 5. At Fan Zone, students can find fun activities, free food and water, lively music and other games and giveaways. Miami Hurricanes football games are always super fun experiences for UM students.

Nolan Williams Jr. and Nikkole Salter’s story of a contentious family gathering makes its uneven debut at Ford's Theatre.

This particular area of the Florida Panhandle was still recovering from destruction caused by a Category 5 hurricane more than three years ago.

This particular area of the Florida Panhandle was still recovering from destruction caused by a Category 5 hurricane more than three years ago.

With the Olympic games live-streaming on TV monitors throughout the Shalala Student Center, dozens of students waited in line to receive their “passport” to an evening of Canes-styled Olympic fun. Hosted by Hurricane Productions, Canes Night Live and Category 5, the “Canes Olympic Village” was full of various cultural activities and winter sports-related games inspired by the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. To win a limited-edition event T-shirt, students needed to complete five of the eight different activities offered at the Feb. 18 event. Junior Cidnee Lassiter completed six Olympic Village events. “It was really fun because there were a whole bunch of different activities,” Lassiter said.

Volunteer rescuers are taking care of cats, cows and other animals they managed to save after Indonesia's Mount Semeru erupted earlier this month.

Police say 13-year-old Nyssa Brown's body was found on Dec. 16, nearly a week after Friday's EF-3 tornado. Her mother, father, grandmother and three siblings also lost their lives due to the storm.

A National Weather Service high wind warning covered an area stretching from New Mexico to upper Michigan as powerful storms and reported tornadoes swept across the Midwest and Plains. (Dec. 16)

Join Bryan Norcross and Luke Dorris for an in-depth conversation about the epic story of the cruising ship Fantome that was lost in Category 5 Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Prolific author Jim Carrier talks about the twists and turns in the saga that led to a huge passenger ship being trapped in the western Caribbean.

The University of Miami will be turning back the years and cranking up the music for this year’s homecoming week, from Nov. 1-5, the Homecoming Executive Committee announced at a pep rally Friday co-hosted by UM’s spirit programming board Category 5. This year’s homecoming theme will be “Bring Back the Beat,” celebrating Miami’s wide-range of music and the university’s return to a fully in-person homecoming week. The theme was announced at a pep rally Friday before Saturday’s football game against Appalachian State. During homecoming week, organizers pride themselves on building school spirit and a stronger sense of community, said homecoming committee treasurer Ajiri Uzere. Students can check Category 5 and the Homecoming Executive Committee’s Instagrams for further information on this November’s homecoming week.

The watch party was a collaboration between Hurricane Productions and Category 5, two of the University of Miami’s largest on-campus spirit organizations. Sophomore Lindsey Faucher, a member of Hurricane Productions, says she enjoys partnering with Category 5 to host student events. With forecasts correctly calling for heavy rain, the watch party, which was supposed to be held on the Lakeside Volleyball courts, was moved to the Shalala Student Center ballrooms the morning of the event. For her first event as a freshman, Ceccarelli says the watch party was a great way to destress over the long weekend. Both Category 5 and Hurricane Productions have many events planned as the football season gets underway.

Ida hit Louisiana with faster winds than Katrina, but a hurricane's category number is just part of what makes each storm unique — and uniquely destructive.

Henri is forecast to reach hurricane strength by Friday, hit a top wind speed of 90 mph by Saturday, and could approach New England by Sunday.

The April 7 event, “Croquetas, Cafecitas, y Canes,” was themed around getting University of Miami students excited for Miami’s baseball matchup with rival Miami school Florida International. Cat5, the university’s spirit programming board, partnered with Federacion Estudiantes Cubanos, the Cuban student union, to give out some cool crewnecks and tasty Cuban food. He has helped plan several socially distanced events this season, including giveaways, watch parties and Zoom events during Cat5’s club meetings. “I went upstairs to [the Shalala Center] at around 11:30, and there were two people in line,” said Daniel Toll, one of Category 5’s freshmen working the Croquetas, Cafecitas, y Canes baseball event. Toll said Cat5’s presentation at the University’s “Cane Kickoff” event last fall made him he want to join immediately after.

ISLA DE LA PROVIDENCIA, Colombia – Thousands of homeless Colombians are trying to find their way out of a remote hurricane-ravaged island off the coast of Nicaragua. Eight days ago, Category 5 Hurricane Iota destroyed Providencia, a mountainous Colombian island in the Caribbean. Colombian authorities set up a temporary hospital with limited resources on the island of some 5,000 residents. The Colombian government released this picture of Providencia, Colombia after Hurricane Iota on Nov. 17, 2020. Colombian President Ivan Duque promised humanitarian aid and tasked a Colombian Navy team to assist with the Herculean task of rebuilding the island.

Meanwhile, a second disturbance that formed off the coast of Costa Rica is expected to move southwest across the Caribbean, though its odds of developing further dropped to 0% as of Thursday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center.

MIAMI, Fla. – Hurricane Iota is forecast to hit Honduras as a Category 5 storm and is expected to be devastating. Throughout Florida, necessary items are being gathered to help those who will be affected after the storm. At the Global Empowerment Mission in Miami, they are working around the clock to fill trailers, then send them out. Martha Hernandez, who is spearheading donation drive Amor Y Fuerza Honduras in Doral, has family in Honduras. Where to DonateGEM warehouse, 1148 Northwest 72nd St., Miami, (800) 995-7604.

Hurricane Iota is on the cusp Category 5 strength as it is on final approach to landfall on the coast of Nicaragua near the Honduras border this evening. That was November 6, 1932, as the storm was heading for the Cayman Islands and the southern coast of Cuba. Eta was a Category 4 at landfall, and Iota is forecast to come in near or at Category 5 strength. Imagine reeling from a Category 4 hurricane to get the news that another stronger storm was coming 2 weeks later. In the National Hurricane Center graphic, you can see the yellow area just below the hurricane symbol representing Iota.

Stunningly strong Hurricane Eta is pounding on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua. Hurricane Eta is one of the strongest storms ever recorded in November – the strongest being a tremendously destructive Category 5 that hit central and eastern Cuba in 1932. By later today, Eta’s winds will be winding down significantly as the system tracks over Nicaragua and toward Honduras. By the end of the week, the remnants of Eta are forecast to move back over the Caribbean. We have to see what happens late in the week after Eta, or whatever’s left of it, emerges or reforms over the Caribbean.

Clouds gather over Playa Gaviota Azul as Tropical Storm Zeta approaches Cancun, Mexico, early Monday morning, Oct. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Victor Ruiz Garcia)MIAMI – Hurricane Zeta lashed Mexico's Caribbean coast resorts around Tulum with high winds and rain Monday night as it headed toward the Yucatan Peninsula and then a possible landfall on the central U.S. Gulf Coast at midweek. It was the second time this month that boat captain Francisco Sosa Rosado had to perform the same maneuver, after Hurricane Delta hit the resort in early October. Trees felled by Hurricane Delta barely three weeks earlier still littered parts of Cancun, stacked along roadsides and in parks. There was also a Tropical Storm Zeta in 2005, but that year had 28 storms because meteorologists later went back and found they missed one, which then became an “unnamed named storm."

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Bahamians are marking the anniversary of a historic tragedy on Tuesday while dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. The devastating Category 5 Hurricane Dorian first made landfall Sept. 1, 2019 on the Abaco Islands and made a second landfall near Marsh Harbour. “I mean, I was pregnant; I was five months pregnant.”The massive flooding forced some to seek refuge in attics and cut holes in roofs. By Sept. 12, 2019, officials reported 1,300 people had vanished. Months later, Bahamas’ official death toll was 70, but it’s unclear how many people really died because there are still 200 people who are still considered missing.

Bahamas going solar to protect power grid from future hurricanes A tiny country in "Hurricane Alley" is trying to be an example to the world after Category 5 storms demolished parts of its electrical grid. Bill Whitaker reports on the Bahamas' adoption of solar energy.

Its prime minister has embraced solar power not just as a necessity, but to show the rest of the world how to confront climate change. Prime Minister Hubert Minnis addressed climate change forcefully after Hurricane Irma, another Category 5, struck part of his country in 2017. Ragged Island in the Southern Bahamas was so decimated it would be incredibly hard to rebuild. The new system is not only hurricane-resistant but reduces the country's carbon footprint, further lessening its already minuscule contribution to climate change. "First World nations make the greatest contribution to climate change," Minnis said.

Hurricane Lorenzo is setting records for intensity in the northeastern Atlantic. HURRICANE LORENZO peaked at an incredible 160 mph, Category 5 yesterday in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean. The track that the atmosphere offered to the north happened to be over unusually warm water for that part of the ocean. So the combination of a strong circulation, ideal atmospherics, and very warm ocean waters created the superstrong hurricane. There has been a trend, in general, for unusually warm water to be farther north during hurricane season, which is contributing to stronger hurricanes at higher latitudes.

Hurricane Lorenzo is setting records for intensity in the northeastern Atlantic. HURRICANE LORENZO peaked at an incredible 160 mph, Category 5 yesterday in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean. The track that the atmosphere offered to the north happened to be over unusually warm water for that part of the ocean. So the combination of a strong circulation, ideal atmospherics, and very warm ocean waters created the superstrong hurricane. There has been a trend, in general, for unusually warm water to be farther north during hurricane season, which is contributing to stronger hurricanes at higher latitudes.

Royal Bahamas Defense Force officers examine maps before departing for devastated Abaco Island on Sept. 4, 2019, in Nassau, the Bahamas. A massive rescue effort is underway after Hurricane Dorian spent more than a day parked over the Bahamas, killing at least seven as entire communities were flattened, roads washed out and hospitals and airports swamped by several feet of water, according to published reports. Hide Caption

NOAA's forecast for the path of Hurricane Dorian as of Monday, September 2 at 4 a.m. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Hurricane Dorian has killed five people in the Abaco Islands, Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said Monday. The storm wiped out power to Nassau and the rest of New Providence, the country's most populous island, Bahamas Power and Light said. "It's just an absolutely devastating, life-threatening situation," said Ken Graham, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami. How Dorian could pummel the USAfter Dorian leaves the Bahamas, it threatens to turn its destructive force on the US Southeast.

Hurricane Dorian is causing catastrophic damage in the Bahamas due to its extreme strength and size. As a fierce Category 5 hurricane, it is one of only four hurricanes on the record at this kind of... Copyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

Incredible Category 5 Hurricane Dorian is causing catastrophic damage in the Bahamas due to its extreme strength. Dorian will come close enough to Broward, that in an abundance of safety, the National Hurricane Center is alerting us of the possibility. Hurricane Dorian will track very near or offshore of the Central and North Florida coastline. A prolonged period of catastrophic winds and storm surge will affect the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama Island tonight. Life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds are expected along portions of the Florida east coast through mid-week, and storm surge and hurricane warnings are in effect.

Incredible Category 5 Hurricane Dorian is causing catastrophic damage in the Bahamas due to its extreme strength. They will have a Hurricane Andrew South Dade experience but with the wind blowing for two days. Dorian will come close enough to Broward County, that out an abundance of caution, the National Hurricane Center is alerting us of the possibility of 40 mph winds. Hurricane Dorian will track very near or offshore the Central and North Florida coastline. Life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds are expected along portions of the Florida east coast through mid-week, and storm surge and hurricane warnings are in effect.

MARSH HARBOUR, Bahamas - Conditions gradually worsened in the Bahamas on Sunday morning as the islands began to feel the brunt of Hurricane Dorian. Strong winds and driving rain have been pounding the Bahamas as the powerful Category 5 storm begins to move across the region. The eye of Hurricane Dorian is expected to begin moving through the Bahamas around noon. "We cannot stress the amount of devastation and catastrophic impact that Hurricane Dorian is expected to bring," said Shavonne Moxey-Bonamy, the Bahamas chief meteorologist. Authorities closed airports for The Abaco Islands, Grand Bahama and Bimini, but Lynden Pindling International Airport in the capital of Nassau remained open.

BAHAMAS - Hurricane Dorian's almost 185-mph sustained winds brought "catastrophic conditions" to the Abaco Islands, the National Hurricane Center said, and forecasters predict the Category 5 storm will remain over the northern Bahamas into Monday. With gusts over 220 mph, Dorian has become "the strongest hurricane in modern records for the northwestern Bahamas," the center said. Once the storm finishes deluging the Bahamas it is expected to head toward Florida, where mandatory evacuations have already begun. The northwestern Bahamas are under a hurricane warning, which means "preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion," the hurricane center said. Conditions are expected to grow only worse as Dorian stalls over the Bahamas, forecasters say.

PLANTATION, Fla. - Officials in Broward County are keeping a close eye on Hurricane Dorian as the powerful Category 5 storm continues moving toward Florida's east coast. At the Broward Emergency Operations Center in Plantation, workers are busy checking on the status of shelters and doing other final preparations to ensure that the county is as ready as it can be for whatever the storm may bring. Sunday morning, Local 10's Christina Boomer Vazquez was at the facility as a policy meeting was underway, with officials speaking to the National Hurricane Center to evaluate the possibilities of additional watches or warnings and even potential evacuations. Updated information is expected from Broward County officials sometime Sunday afternoon. Plans are already underway for post-storm activity, such as the Traffic Engineering Department going out to assess any damage to traffic signals.

Officials in Broward County are keeping a close eye on Hurricane Dorian as the powerful Category 5 storm continues moving towards Florida's east coast. Copyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

PLANTATION, Fla. - Officials in Broward County are keeping a close eye on Hurricane Dorian as the powerful Category 5 storm continues moving toward Florida's east coast. At the Broward Emergency Operations Center in Plantation, workers are busy checking on the status of shelters and doing other final preparations to ensure that the county is as ready as it can be for whatever the storm may bring. Sunday morning, Local 10's Christina Boomer Vazquez was at the facility as a policy meeting was underway, with officials speaking to the National Hurricane Center to evaluate the possibilities of additional watches or warnings and even potential evacuations. Updated information is expected from Broward County officials sometime Sunday afternoon. Plans are already underway for post-storm activity, such as the Traffic Engineering Department going out to assess any damage to traffic signals.

Hurricane Dorian is a "now catastrophic" Category 5 storm, the National Hurricane Center said Sunday morning. A tropical storm warning is now in effect from Deerfield Beach to Sebastian Inlet ahead of Hurricane Dorian, while a tropical storm watch is now in effect for Broward County. As of the 10 a.m. Dorian strengthened to a Category 5 storm with winds at 175 mph and moving west at 8 mph. Hurricane Dorian will track directly over Great Abaco and Grand Bahama Island in the northwestern Bahamas. The tropical storm watch issued for Broward County means that winds over 40 mph are possible.

Simply known as the Labor Day Storm, the 1935 hurricane was the strongest Atlantic hurricane to ever make landfall and the first designated Category 5 hurricane to ever touch the United States. The storm hit the Florida Keys on September 2KEY WEST, Fla. - We don't know yet what will happen as Hurricane Dorian approaches Florida's east coast this weekend, but its timing coincides with another Labor Day hurricane that rocked south Florida in 1935. Simply known as the Labor Day Storm, the 1935 hurricane was the strongest Atlantic hurricane to ever make landfall and the first designated Category 5 hurricane to ever touch the United States. The storm hit the Florida Keys on September 2 with peak winds of 200 mph. Dorian is expected to strengthen to at least a Category 1 storm over Labor Day weekend and could possibly reach Category 3 strength before all is said and done.

This along with unfavorable upper winds over much of the area will prevent development of the tropical disturbances that are moving off of Africa through this week, at least. On average, tropical activity ramps up significantly beginning on about August 15th which is this Thursday. About 90% of strong hurricanes Cat 3 and above form between August 15th and October 15th. Fifty years ago in 1969, the hurricane season started late, and ended up being quite busy with 12 hurricanes. Copyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

This along with unfavorable upper winds over much of the area will prevent development of the tropical disturbances that are moving off of Africa through this week, at least. On average, tropical activity ramps up significantly beginning on about August 15th which is this Thursday. About 90% of strong hurricanes Cat 3 and above form between August 15th and October 15th. Fifty years ago in 1969, the hurricane season started late, and ended up being quite busy with 12 hurricanes. Copyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

This along with unfavorable upper winds over much of the area will prevent development of the tropical disturbances that are moving off of Africa through this week, at least. On average, tropical activity ramps up significantly beginning on about August 15th which is this Thursday. About 90% of strong hurricanes Cat 3 and above form between August 15th and October 15th. Fifty years ago in 1969, the hurricane season started late, and ended up being quite busy with 12 hurricanes. Copyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

Search and rescue team members search for victims of Hurricane Michael on Oct. 13, 2018, in Mexico Beach, Florida. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Insurance companies have yet to pay about 15 percent of claims made from Hurricane Michael in the Florida Panhandle. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet last week that insurers have yet pay out more than 21,000 claims from last Octobers Category 5 storm. Office of Insurance Regulation Commissioner David Altmaier says the figure is discouraging. The Tampa Bay Times reports that the law requires insurance companies to pay claims within 90 days of being filed, provided the claims are not contested.

Hurricane Barbara was pushing across the Pacific as a powerful Category 4 storm Wednesday, but it was very far from land. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm had maximum sustained winds of 145 mph early Wednesday. Barbara may have reached its peak intensity overnight, when its maximum sustained winds were 155 mph, just under the 157 mph threshold for a Category 5 storm. The storm was located about 1,925 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, and was moving west-northwest at 10 mph. Barbara was forecast to weaken to a tropical storm Friday.

Hurricane Barbara was pushing across the Pacific as a powerful Category 4 storm Wednesday, but it was very far from land. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm had maximum sustained winds of 145 mph early Wednesday. Barbara may have reached its peak intensity overnight, when its maximum sustained winds were 155 mph, just under the 157 mph threshold for a Category 5 storm. The storm was located about 1,925 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, and was moving west-northwest at 10 mph. Barbara was forecast to weaken to a tropical storm Friday.

It is a movie based on Florida's biggest fears: A Category 5 hurricane and massive gators. The new Paramount Pictures movie "Crawl" takes place in a Florida town and depicts a fictional hurricane that brings out hungry alligators that will feast on those who did not evacuate. Here is the movie description:"When a massive hurricane hits her Florida town, young Haley ignores the evacuation orders to search for her missing father, Dave. After finding him gravely injured in their family home, the two of them become trapped by the rapidly encroaching floodwaters. With the storm strengthening, Haley and Dave discover an even greater threat than the rising water level -- a relentless attack from a pack of gigantic alligators."