As of 9 a.m. Sunday, Milton, still only a tropical storm, had sustained wind speeds of about 100 kilometers per hour. After 24 hours, the wind speed reached 250 kilometers per hour. Meteorologists no He didn't come back -Even though this was a real possibility they were talking about For years.
To understand what they're talking about, you have to remember that warm water provides the “fuel” a hurricane needs to gain strength. Temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico ranged between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius at the beginning of the week. The warmer the water, the faster the storm will strengthen.
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This means that global warming will not only create stronger hurricanes: we will often see hurricanes gaining strength more quickly. With all the consequences for residents who will have less time to prepare for the arrival of a new storm.
In this case, Floridians will be “lucky” because this hurricane strengthened at the other end of the Gulf of Mexico: thus, they will be warned on Monday that the tropical storm, which appeared on Saturday, will become a hurricane. Tornado between Sunday morning and Monday morning, and that This will reach them at the end of the day on Wednesday.
Milton became a Category 5 hurricane late Monday morning — the highest level on the scale — With wind speeds approaching 300 km/h by the end of the day. Good Which we expected “He's losing a little bit of steam before Wednesday evening, that is.” Hypercondensation “, or this” Explosion intensification “, said the National Weather Service, will be the one that will receive attention in the near future. National Hurricane Center He specifies “Rapid intensification” means an increase of no less than 60 kilometers per hour within 24 hours. With Milton, we are more than double this threshold.
Gulf of Mexico waters It was always warmer than average Since last May Hurricane Helen has also been around It intensifies abnormally quickly on September 26 – but “only” 95 kilometers per hour in one day.
In 2023, researchers has concluded There has been an increase, over the past 40 years, in tropical storms that have experienced “rapid intensification.”
