Milton keeps rare company

 

Category 5 Hurricane Milton (Source: NOAA)

Hurricane Milton’s intensity over the Gulf of Mexico ranks high among past storms in the Atlantic Ocean Basin. A Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 175 mph, it’s minimum central air pressure is a very low 911 millibars (mb). By comparison, standard sea level air pressure is approximately 1013 millibars.

Although Milton is expected to weaken to a Category 3 storm prior to landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the surge will be comparable to a more intense storm. That’s similar to Hurricane Katrina (2005) that was a Category 5 storm over the open Gulf of Mexico but weakened to a still major Category 3 storm. However, since Katrina was such an intense storm with a large diameter, its surge was more typical of landfalling Category 4 or 5 hurricane.

Milton’s lowest observed air pressure, so far, of 911 millibars ranks it as the 11^th lowest on record in an Atlantic hurricane behind such dangerous storms as Wilma, Gilbert and Katrina. Fortunately, the National Hurricane Center expects Milton to weaken before landfall. However, it will remain an intense and large diameter storm making evacuations and preparations essential for communities in harm’s way, as instructed by local officials.

Milton’s peak sustained winds of 175 mph have tied it with several other Atlantic hurricanes (e.g., Camille, Andrew and Katrina) for fourth highest sustained wind speed on record. It’s rapid intensification from minimal hurricane to Category 5 monster in one day was due to ideal conditions, including very warm ocean water and favorable winds aloft that allowed for outflow to occur.

This is the second Category 5 hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season, along with Beryl earlier in the year. That makes 2024 one of only a small number of seasons to see multiple Category 5 hurricanes, such as 2019, 2017, 2005, and 1932.