DALLAS — Hurricane Milton is churning through the Gulf of Mexico with a projected path toward Florida. It's already one of the strongest hurricanes on record in the Atlantic Basin, reaching Category 5 status on Monday.
Here's what we know about Milton and how it compares to other large hurricanes over the years:
How strong is Hurricane Milton?
Hurricane Milton reached its peak intensity on Monday with a low pressure of 897 mb (millibars) and sustained winds of 180 mph stands among the top 5 strongest hurricanes in Atlantic basin history based on pressure alone. Though Milton did not break the all-time records, its power places alongside storms like Hurricane Wilma (2005), Hurricane Allen (1980), and Hurricane Rita (2005). These hurricanes are known for their intensity, reaching Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
What are the strongest hurricanes on record?
- Hurricane Wilma (2005): Recorded the lowest pressure of any Atlantic hurricane at 882 mb, with sustained winds reaching 185 mph.
- Hurricane Allen (1980): Had sustained winds of 190 mph and a pressure of 899 mb, making it one of the most intense storms in terms of wind speeds.
- Hurricane Gilbert (1988): Had a pressure of 888 mb and winds of 185 mph, making it one of the strongest storms in the 20th century.
- Hurricane Rita (2005): With sustained winds of 180 mph and a minimum central pressure of 895 mb, Milton reached similar wind speeds and low pressure as Rita.
While Hurricane Milton's low pressure of 897 mb and 180 mph winds place it in the group of powerful storms, it does not surpass the pressure or wind speeds seen in Wilma or Allen. Only four storms in recorded history have recorded a lower pressure than Milton – Wilma in 2005 (882 mb), Gilbert in 1988 (888 mb), Labor Day in 1935 (892 mb) and Rita in 2005 (895 mb).
Other notable Milton statistics
- It is the second Category 5 in the 2024 hurricane season.
- It is the second Category 5 in the Gulf of Mexico during the month of October (on record).
- It is the strongest hurricane in the Gulf this late in the calendar year.
- It is the strongest hurricane in the Gulf since Wilma in October 2005.
Why There Is No Category 6 Hurricane?
The Saffir-Simpson scale, which measures hurricanes based on wind speeds (not pressure or damage), tops out at Category 5. A Category 5 hurricane is defined by winds of 157 mph or higher, which already signifies catastrophic damage. There is no need for a Category 6 designation because any increase beyond this threshold leads to similar destructive potential. Even small increments in wind speed after 157 mph do not drastically change the level of devastation, making the current scale sufficient for classification.
It is important to note that this is not the same thing at the EF Scale. The EF scale is used for tornadoes, and it is based on damage, not wind speed. The EF scale ranges from zero to five.