Introduction
Hurricane Milton continues to churn in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday along the west coast of Florida.
What You Need To Know
- Hurricane Milton peaked in intensity with winds of 180 mph
- Surface pressure dropped to the fourth lowest at 897 mb
- Its small size aided in explosive development in the Gulf of Mexico
Milton’s History
Milton developed from a tropical disturbance in the Caribbean Sea. On Saturday, October 5, it became Tropical Depression 14, and less than three hours later, it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Milton. Milton intensified into a hurricane by the afternoon of October 6, and by the morning of October 7, it had reached Category 3 or major hurricane status with winds of 125 mph. The storm began exploding, and by 5 p.m. eastern, winds were 180 mph.
Rapid Intensification
As defined by the National Hurricane Center (NHC), rapid intensification is “an increase in the maximum sustained winds of a tropical cyclone of at least 35 mph in 24 hours.” Milton surpassed that by nearly three times that amount. The 5 a.m. Milton advisory on October 7 had winds of 90 mph. Just 12 hours later, winds were 180 mph, some of the highest winds ever recorded in an Atlantic hurricane.
History-making Pressure
On Monday, October 7, Milton’s surface pressure plummeted to 897 mbar, the fourth lowest surface pressure ever recorded in the Atlantic basin in the modern satellite era. Only Hurricanes Rita and Wilma from 2005 and Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 had lower pressures.
How Milton Intensified so Quickly
For a hurricane to develop, certain ingredients are needed, including water temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, rising air and light winds aloft to support thunderstorm development and a low pressure. Milton had all of this and remained small in size, all aiding in explosive development. “Due to Milton’s tiny core, it was able to wrap up very quickly. When a storm is extremely small, you tend to have a much faster ramp up, and down, of intensity due to it avoiding some of the more hostile air to the north,” explains Spectrum News 13 Orlando Meteorologist Zach Covey.
Conclusion
Ahead of expected landfall, Hurricane Milton is breaking many records. From rapid intensification to maximum winds to minimum pressure, Milton will earn its place in history.
Northwest Florida Concludes
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How did Hurricane Milton form?
A: Hurricane Milton developed from a tropical disturbance in the Caribbean Sea.
Q: How intense did Hurricane Milton become?
A: Hurricane Milton peaked in intensity with winds of 180 mph and surface pressure of 897 mb.
Q: Why did Hurricane Milton intensify so quickly?
A: Milton had all the necessary ingredients for development, including water temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, rising air and light winds aloft, and a small size, which allowed it to wrap up quickly and avoid hostile air.
