Hurricane Milton approaches limits of what Earth's atmosphere can produce
Hurricane Milton Intensifies to Category 5, Approaching Historic Strength
Hurricane Milton has rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm as of Monday, nearing historic levels among the strongest hurricanes ever recorded. The National Hurricane Center reports that Milton’s maximum sustained winds are reaching nearly 180 miles per hour, categorizing it as a "potentially catastrophic" hurricane.
The storm’s barometric pressure has plummeted to 897 millibars, making both its wind speeds and pressure some of the most extreme in history.
How Strong Can Atlantic Hurricanes Get?
According to a 1998 study by MIT climatologist Kerry Emanuel, Hurricane Milton is approaching the upper limits of what Earth's atmosphere can produce for storms in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. While it is believed that maximum potential winds for hurricanes can reach around 190 miles per hour, experts suggest this upper limit is not definitive. Some recent studies propose that climate change could enable hurricanes to strengthen even further, leading to calls for the inclusion of a "Category 6" on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
Historical Context
Milton is one of only a few hurricanes to achieve wind speeds of 180 miles per hour, but it still falls short of Hurricane Allen, which holds the record for the highest wind speeds in the Atlantic, reaching an incredible 190 miles per hour. Allen caused significant devastation, leading to 269 fatalities across the Caribbean before making landfall near the U.S.-Mexico border.
When it comes to barometric pressure, Hurricane Wilma holds the record for the lowest pressure ever recorded in an Atlantic hurricane, dropping to 882 millibars. Although Wilma weakened to a Category 3 storm before landfall in Florida, it still resulted in 52 fatalities.
What to Expect from Milton
The National Hurricane Center anticipates “fluctuations in intensity” but warns that Milton will remain an "extremely dangerous hurricane" until landfall. While the storm is expected to weaken as it approaches Florida, hurricane-force winds are likely to extend up to 30 miles from its center, with tropical storm-force winds reaching as far as 80 miles.
The hurricane could produce a storm surge of up to 15 feet along parts of the Florida coast, particularly in Tampa Bay. The most severe surge impacts are anticipated south of where the storm makes landfall, leading to surge-related flooding in those areas.
Additionally, heavy rainfall is projected, with 5 to 10 inches likely across central Florida and localized areas possibly receiving up to 15 inches, resulting in serious flooding. Hurricane conditions may begin affecting Florida as early as Wednesday afternoon, with tropical storm-force winds possible by Wednesday morning, and landfall expected on Wednesday night.