Yesterday, Milton unleashed its fury as a monstrous Category 5 hurricane, boasting winds of 180 mph. However, as the night progressed, it underwent an eyewall replacement cycle, a common occurrence in extremely powerful hurricanes.
During this cycle, the storm's intense eyewall, where the strongest winds are concentrated, becomes unstable and begins to deteriorate. Subsequently, the hurricane forms a new, larger eyewall, potentially leading to a re-intensification of the storm.
Initially, Milton featured a small, 'pinhole' eye that eventually weakened. Over the span of a few hours, the old eyewall was replaced by a newer, larger one, posing a greater threat as it extended its reach over a wider area.
The National Hurricane Center noted on Tuesday morning that these cycles often result in fluctuating peak winds, while the wind field generally expands. This phenomenon was precisely observed in Milton's case, as it transitioned from a Category 5 to a Category 4 hurricane overnight, with its tropical storm-force winds expanding as the eye reorganized.
Once the new eyewall stabilizes, there is potential for the hurricane to regain strength and possibly exceed its previous peak intensity. This cyclical pattern of eyewall replacement underscores the dynamic and unpredictable nature of these powerful weather systems.
