Hurricane Milton has made a remarkable mark in the history of Atlantic hurricanes, reaching unprecedented strengths recently. Here’s a breakdown of its significance:
Hurricane Milton’s Strength
- Wind Speeds: Milton maxed out at 180 mph, placing it among the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic.
Strongest Atlantic Hurricanes:
Only five hurricanes have surpassed Milton’s wind speeds:
- Hurricane Allen (1980): 190 mph
- Hurricane Dorian (2019): 185 mph
- Hurricane Wilma (2005): 185 mph
- Hurricane Gilbert (1988): 185 mph
- Labor Day Hurricane (1935): 185 mph
Pressure Records
- Milton’s pressure dropped to 897 millibars, a nearly record-breaking level:
- Hurricane Wilma (2005): 883 millibars (lowest recorded)
- Hurricane Gilbert (1988): 888 millibars
- Hurricane Rita (2005): 895 millibars
Global Context
- At its peak, Milton became the strongest storm on the planet in 2024, even surpassing the year’s most intense typhoons in the West Pacific.
Comparison with West Pacific Storms
- While Milton is impressive, the West Pacific Ocean is known for producing some of the strongest storms on record, often exceeding Milton’s intensity.
Conclusion
Milton’s remarkable wind speeds and low pressure place it in an elite category of hurricanes, highlighting the increasing strength and intensity of storms in the Atlantic basin in recent years. This underlines the growing concern regarding the impact of climate change on hurricane patterns and severity.
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