Milton Expected To Become Rare Category 5 Hurricane Today

This satellite map provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows Hurricane Isaac on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (NOAA via AP)

As Hurricane Milton continues its rapid intensification in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, forecasters now predict that the storm will reach Category 5 status, with sustained winds currently at 155 mph, just 2 mph shy of the threshold.

The National Hurricane Center attributes the unprecedented strengthening of Milton to the exceptionally warm Gulf waters, likening them to rocket fuel for the hurricane.

If Milton does indeed reach Category 5 status, it will mark only the second Atlantic hurricane to do so this year. The first was Hurricane Beryl, which became the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Caribbean Sea in early July.

Warm Gulf waters are fueling the unprecedented strengthening of Hurricane Milton.

Forecasters predict Hurricane Milton will reach Category 5 status in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane Beryl was the first Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic this year.

Historical data from NOAA reveals that only 40 hurricanes in the Atlantic basin have ever reached Category 5 intensity. Prior to this season, only two Category 5 hurricanes had formed in the 2020s: Ian in 2022 and Lee in 2023.

The intensification of Hurricane Milton serves as a stark reminder of the power and unpredictability of these natural phenomena, underscoring the importance of preparedness and vigilance in the face of extreme weather events.