"This is definitely off the charts. This is almost like three times the threshold that is used. So, yeah, this is definitely off the charts," Karthik Balaguru, a climate scientist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, emphasizes the unprecedented nature of Milton’s rapid intensification.
Rapid intensification is becoming a bigger risk with climate change. Storms that gain strength that quickly can give communities less time to prepare for their impact, highlighting the urgent need for improved forecasting and preparedness measures.
Milton's sustained winds were estimated to be as high as 160 miles per hour by 11:55AM ET Monday, October 7th. That puts it in the strongest category of storms - Category 5, according to the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale.
Hurricanes draw strength from heat energy at the surface of the sea. Unusually warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico helped supercharge Milton, reflecting trends in how climate change affects storm patterns.
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