Category 6: Day of Destruction
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Category 6: Day of Destruction was a made-for-TV movie that aired originally in November, 2004 on CBS. Its focus is on the city of Chicago as large storms approach from the north and south and combine over the city, while at the same time a hacker-induced power outage cuts communications and a journalist and power officials attempt to find its cause. Global warming, asteroid impact, volcanic eruptions, and changes in solar radiation (aka sunspots) and weather patterns are all cited as being the cause.[citation needed]
Actual footage from real storms (mainly hurricanes and tornadoes) was used, explaining why sometimes palm trees are seen in Chicago. Also, in reality, a tropical cyclone would likely have degenerated to an extratropical low by the time it reaches Chicago, with little or no wind impact.
The movie was filmed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
In November 2005, the movie's sequel, Category 7: The End of the World, aired.
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[edit] Cast
- Thomas Gibson as Mitch Benson
- Nancy McKeon as Amy Harkin
- Chandra West as Rebecca Kerns
- Brian Dennehy as Andy Goodman
- Randy Quaid as Tornado Tommy
[edit] Summary
[edit] Day 1
Las Vegas is been destroyed by a series of F5 tornadoes, taking out a wedding party, a hotel highrise, a number of other buildings, and the power grid. A craps table, a roulette wheel, and several million dollars are deposited in Last Chance, Nevada, fifty miles away.
In Chicago, a heatwave, possiby caused by the greenhouse effect from the pollution of many simultaneous volcanic eruptions and the leftover heat from the ash being spread is overshadowing the city, killing 11 people so far in 4 weeks. In Oklahoma, a stormchaser (Randy Quaid) is looking forward to a hot season of tornado tours.
[edit] Day 2
Problems with the Lexer power grid are starting to come to light, as reporter Amy Harkin learns when she is approached by a Lexer employee, who is concerned about the security of the computer systems that the power companies use, which might leave them open to hackers.
A team of U.S. Air Force "weather hunters" find a supercell developing rapidly in their area, producing a storm requiring the evacuation of several oil rigs.
[edit] Day 3
The shutdown of oil refineries and rigs is threatening fuel supplies. Power grids are already at full capacity with the heat wave.
[edit] Day 4
Tornado Tommy's storm tourists arrive from Japan, unaware of the current weather anomalies and looking for a good time touring Tornado Alley.
In New York, Amy is learning that the whistleblower's work at making the computer systems more user friendly has compromised the network's security.
That night, a hacker launches his first attack on the grid, shutting off the lights at Wrigley Field for several seconds.
[edit] Day 5
Low pressure systems are developing rapidly, in a pattern usually only seen in late fall. In Amarillo, Texas, high winds start destroying windwills at a wind farm, setting off a chain reaction that takes out an electrical tower and a big rig.
At Lexer, the powers that be remain more concerned about efficiency than security, even in the face of the incident at Wrigley Field.
A large storm is developing over Chicago, and severe lightning strikes a Little League field, as well as an airliner passing through the storm. As the plane is trying to divert, lightning strikes a Greater Midwest Electric power plant, taking out most of the generators and shutting off power to half the city. Panic and diverse alarms spread throughout Chicago. The lightning was possibly caused by the radioactive material in the atmosphere prior to the asteroid impact.
[edit] Day 8
Tornado Tommy takes his tour group through Oklahoma, where he spots another large cell developing. A rogue super cell strikes during the tour.
[edit] Day 9
The two storm systems - an arctic storm from Canada and a tropical storm from the Gulf - are on a collision course by now, predicted to collide around Chicago.
[edit] Day 10
Amy's source reveals that someone has been hacking into the power grid. After some persuasion, he agrees to go on the record with his suspicions.
Meanwhile, in Oklahoma, data has come to light that could indicate potential hurricane conditions on the Great Lakes... or a superstorm.
[edit] Day 11
A tornado destroys the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.
The storms collide and the newly formed superstorm destroys Chicago.
[edit] External Links
Category 6: Day of Destruction on IMDB
