Hurricane Milton’s rapid intensification to a Category 5 storm has raised questions about the theoretical limit of hurricane wind speeds. While a ‘speed limit’ exists, it’s not fixed and is influenced by factors like ocean heat. Climate change is expected to push these limits further, potentially leading to storms exceeding current hurricane categories.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting an above-normal hurricane season in the Atlantic basin this year, with a total of 17 to 25 named storms forecasted. Between 8 and 13 of these storms are likely to become hurricanes, with up to seven reaching category three or higher. This prediction is based on a confluence of factors, including near-record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic, the developing La Niña in the Pacific, reduced Atlantic trade winds, and less wind shear.
