Category 6: Day of Destruction

Category 6: Day of Destruction
Cover of the original DVD release of the film
Written by	Matt Dorff
Directed by	Dick Lowry
Starring	Nancy McKeon Thomas Gibson Chandra West Randy Quaid Dianne Wiest Brian Dennehy
Theme music composer	Jeff Rona Joseph Williams
Country of origin	US
Original language(s)	English
No. of episodes	2
Production
Producer(s)	Leslie Belzberg Randy Sutter Robert M. Sertner Frank von Zerneck
Cinematography	Neil Roach
Editor(s)	Tod Feuerman Scot J. Kelly
Running time	174 minutes
Distributor	CBS Television Lions Gate Entertainment
Release
Original network	CBS
Original release	November 14 – November 17, 2004
Chronology
Followed by	Category 7: The End of the World

Category 6: Day of Destruction is a 2004 four-hour miniseries that was broadcast in the United States on CBS in two parts, with the first part aired on November 14 and the second on November 17. It was later released to DVD on February 15, 2005. The miniseries focuses primarily on the city of Chicago as three unusual storm systems approach from the west, north and south and combine over the city to form a massive hurricane. At the same time a hacker-induced power outage cuts communications leaving a journalist and power officials scrambling to find the cause.

The miniseries was a success for CBS in terms of ratings, as it was the highest-rated movie for the channel in two years, and it earned the highest ratings during the November sweeps week with 19.4 million viewers watching the first part. Critics were less favorable towards the film, with most panning the film for its dialog, implausible science, and poor acting. Some reviewers did praise the film's high-budget special effects and felt the film had at least some "charm." In November 2005 a four-hour sequel, Category 7: The End of the World, aired in the same two-part format.

Andy Goodman (Brian Dennehy) is a week away from a forced retirement from his position as chief meteorologist at the National Weather Administration's Severe Weather Center. However, tornadoes level Las Vegas, an area normally not prone to the storms. Concerned and upset that the storm system formed unnoticed and that they were unable to warn the people, Goodman begins closely tracking the system. Goodman receives field reports from his friend "Tornado Tommy" (Randy Quaid) and assistance from new intern Sabrina Rogers (Alicia Johnston). As time passes, he realizes the system is heading towards Chicago, joined by an unusual warm storm coming from the south, which is already causing a record-breaking heat wave in the city, and an abnormally early cold front from the Arctic.