ocean heat acted as a catalyst Hurricane Miltonrapidly strengthened from category 1 to Category 5 storm In just a few hours on Monday, even seasoned meteorologists were surprised.
Milton’s winds reached a staggering 180 mph, making it the fifth strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded. Despite the slight weakening, experts remain concerned about the possibility of a return to strength.
Storms like Milton have become more common in recent years as storms accumulate, rapidly increasing in intensity. greenhouse gases This led to record-breaking land and ocean temperatures, which intensified the storms. The deeper, warmer waters of the Bay of Campeche and gulf of mexico Milton is understood to have played a key role in its rapid development accurate weatherChief hurricane expert Alex DaSilva. He explained that these waters, hundreds of feet deep, provided the energy necessary to intensify Milton’s explosion.
Da Silva also noted that even after the recent passage of Hurricane Helene, ocean heat content in the Gulf of Mexico is still at its highest levels ever recorded for this time of year.
Researchers have observed a worrying trend in the North Atlantic, with the number of storms intensifying into Category 4 or 5 hurricanes roughly doubling since the 1970s, highlighting the link between rising global temperatures and the increasing intensity of these storms. connect.
mass evacuation As Hurricane Milton approaches, it is currently making its way along the Florida Gulf Coast.
This is the latest:
• Forecast updates: Hurricane Milton temporarily weakened to a Category 4 storm overnight, but is expected to return to a Category 5 storm later today. Although the storm is expected to weaken slightly before making landfall, it is likely to grow in size, increasing its potential for damage over a wider area.
• Login location: Milton is expected to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday. Dangerous eyes and eyewalls could make landfall anywhere from Cedar Island in the north to Naples in the south, with Tampa and Fort Myers among the areas potentially affected.
• Previous storm impacts: Less than two weeks ago, Hurricane Helene hit Big Bend, Florida, as a Category 4 storm, killing at least 20 people. Now, officials warn that Hurricane Milton could cause more severe and widespread damage, prompting massive evacuations and intense preparations along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Hurricanes use the following classifications Saffir-Simpson scalemeasuring its intensity based on wind speed. Here are the five categories:
Category 1: Winds 74-95 mph; minimal damage but possible power outages and some flooding.
Category 2: Winds of 96-110 mph; causing moderate damage to buildings, especially roofs, and severe power outages.
Category 3: Winds of 111-129 mph; risk of widespread damage, life-threatening flooding and infrastructure damage is high.
Category 4: Wind speeds were 130-156 mph; buildings were severely damaged, trees were uprooted, and widespread power outages occurred.
Category 5: Winds in excess of 157 mph; catastrophic damage, destroyed homes, severe flooding and long-term loss of infrastructure.
