Delta and other Dangerous October Hurricanes

 

All eyes are currently on Hurricane Delta as it tracks toward the Gulf of Mexico while rapidly intensifying.  Delta grew from a minimal, 40 mph tropical storm to a 110 mph Category 2 hurricane in just a 24-hour period.  Its air pressure air pressure plummeted from 1004 millibars (mb) to 962 mb during the same 24-hour period.  That’s meant Delta has intensified at one of the fastest rates for any hurricane in recent memory.

As of 2 PM, Hurricane Delta has intensified into a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 140 mph and an air pressure of 956 mb.  The National Hurricane Center says a little more intensification is possible given favorite atmospheric and environmental conditions.  Delta’s rapid intensification draws comparisons to other October hurricanes.

Michael (2018): Unlike past Gulf of Mexico hurricanes that intensified rapidly but weakened before making landfall like Opal (1995) and Lili (2002), Michael intensified dramatically until the time it made landfall in the Florida panhandle.  It came ashore with sustained winds of 160 mph and a minimum central air pressure of 919 mb.  Michael became only the fourth Category 5 hurricane on record to make landfall in the United States – and first since Andrew in 1992.  While it was the fourth strongest hurricane in terms of sustained winds, it had the third lowest air pressure of any hurricane to make a U.S. landfall.

Wilma (2005):  Prior to 2005, no more than two Category 5 hurricanes had developed during a single season in the Atlantic Ocean Basin.  Not only was Hurricane Wilma the fourth of that season, but it also became the strongest hurricane on record in the Atlantic Ocean Basin.  At peak intensity, Wilma had sustained winds of 185 mph and a minimum central air pressure of 882 millibars.  Wilma made landfall on the southwest coast of Florida as a Category 3 storm.  Wilma was the last hurricane to make landfall in the United States until 2016.

Mitch (1998):  Hurricane Mitch set several important benchmarks.  It ended a modest six-year stretch without a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, being the first since Andrew in 1992.  Mitch was also the Atlantic’s first October Category 5 since “Hattie” in 1961.  At peak intensity, Mitch had sustained winds of 180 mph and a minimum air pressure of 905 millibars.  In terms of air pressure, Mitch remains tied with 2007’s Hurricane Dean for eighth strongest Atlantic hurricane on record, overall.  Mitch caused devastating flooding in Central America that claimed more than 10,000 lives and caused moderate damage in south Florida where it made landfall as a strong tropical storm.