HypeScale

HypeScale

HypeScale is an unit of measure indicating the overall hype level of Tropical Activity in the Atlantic Basin. It is a creation of Florida Hurricane and is not official.

This was created after some effort answering the question "How much concern over X situation exists right now?" This includes media response, mentions, activity at this site, other hurricane and weather related sites, and general hit count. It is a measure not of how much actual concern for a system should be, but how the general response to a system is.

The following is arbitrary and not an end all guide: This will be adjusted as needed.

Range	Description
0-1	Nothing going on to some rumors of storms, maybe a unlikely invest, slightly higher for a long range model projected storm.
1-2	Active Invest, but not likely to develop (1.0) to likely to develop (1.9)
2-3	Active storm, but unlikely to affect land, or as a relatively weak storm.
3-4	More than one active storm area, or Tropical Storm force winds approaching non US land.
4-5	Potential Depression/Tropical Storm US land impact or Cat I/II Hurricane hitting outside US.
5-6	Approaching Hurricane likely to recurve, miss land, remain at sea. Or Potential Strong Tropical Storm/Cat 1 hurricane approaching US Land.
6-7	Cat I/II Hurricane approaching US, or Major Hurricane hitting elsewhere.
7-8	Major Hurricane approaching US, or multiple Hurricanes possibly threatening.
8-9	Major Hurricane approaching US - impact likely. Possible high storm surge.
9-10	Major landfalling Hurricane hitting US with widespread destruction and/or flooding.

 This scale is recorded over time. (See the Graph)
 
 For example during Katrina's approach the hype scale would have registered as 8 or so, dropped off during the evening, then spiked up closer to 9 or 10 when news of levees and Gulf Storm surge started to come in.

 Why record this type of thing?  To see patterns of what draws attention to the public and what is right/wrong with over or under hyping a situation.