Hurricane Milton: A Record-Breaking Category 5 Storm Threatens Florida’s Gulf Coast

Hurricane Milton is moving quickly across the Atlantic towards Florida, the United States. Experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said that this storm is one of the most destructive tropical storms ever recorded.

This storm was called a ‘monster’ because it was the strongest storm in the last 100 years. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Milton had the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes ever recorded in west central Florida.

Hurricane Milton jumped from Category 1 to 5 in less than a day. Tropical storms, which are usually the most powerful storms, can quickly destroy the environment with high intensity.

Satellite images from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) show Milton’s strength and growth. This storm is expected to make landfall on the west coast of the Florida peninsula and move towards the Tampa Bay area.

According to NOAA, this storm surge was fueled by record temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico. The warmer the ocean, the more fuel there is to strengthen storms.

Hurricane Milton formed as a result of tropical air pressure over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on October 5, 2024. Hours after formation, NOAA deemed Milton a tropical storm.

Just 24 hours after becoming Hurricane Milton, it became a Category 1 hurricane Rapid intensification is defined as an increase in wind speed of 35 mph in 24 hours.

On October 7, 2024, the hurricane’s wind speed increased to 95 mph. Wind speeds reached a maximum of 180 mph or Category 5 and the storm’s pressure reached a minimum of 897 mb.

Based on wind speed, Milton was the strongest hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico since Hurricane Rita in 2005. Then, based on pressure, Milton was the fifth most powerful hurricane on record in the basin. ‘The Atlantic Ocean.

(Tiffany)