Breaking down the strength and track of Hurricane Milton

Milton underwent rapid intensification in the past 24 hours and since midnight.

It is now a Category 5 hurricane with staggering maximum wind of 180 mph. That makes Milton the strongest hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico since Rita in 2005 (180 mph), the strongest hurricane in the Gulf with 175+ mph wind this late in the season and one of only four hurricanes since 1979 with a pressure as low as 911 mb. The others were Allen (1980 / 899 mb), Katrina (2005 / 902 mb) and Rita (2005 / 895 mb).

By any metric, it's simply a stunningly strong hurricane that intensified in a highly favorable environment of minimal wind, warm sea water and moist air.

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