Recent data from the National Hurricane Center has revealed that Hurricane Milton is making history as the third-fastest rapidly intensifying storm on record in the Atlantic. In less than 24 hours, Milton's wind speeds have surged by an astonishing 90 mph, surpassing the rapid intensification criteria by nearly threefold.
While Milton's rapid strengthening is unprecedented in the Gulf of Mexico, it is not entirely without precedent in the Atlantic. Only two hurricanes, Wilma in 2005 and Felix in 2007, have intensified more rapidly than Milton within a 24-hour period.
Hurricane Wilma, which occurred in 2005, holds the record for the most rapid intensification in the Atlantic. Its sustained winds escalated by a remarkable 110 mph in just one day while traversing the western Caribbean Sea. Similarly, Hurricane Felix in 2007 rapidly intensified by 100 mph within a 24-hour timeframe in the Caribbean.
Milton's rapid intensification marks the 13th named storm and the seventh to undergo rapid strengthening in the Atlantic basin this season. Scientists attribute the increasing likelihood of rapid intensification to the warming of the planet, primarily caused by fossil fuel pollution. As bodies of water heat up and retain warmth, storms like Milton are more likely to intensify rapidly, posing significant challenges for forecasting and disaster preparedness.
