Hurricane Milton underwent rapid intensification (an increase in the maximum sustained winds in a tropical cyclone of at least 35 mph in a 24-hour period) Sunday night and Monday.

In fact, Milton went from Category 1 strength to Category 5 strength in about half-a-day, growing into an intense Category 5 with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph as of Monday evening and further strengthening not off the table. This quick increase in immense intensity has left many folks wondering _if there's a Category 6_, and if so, if Milton will obtain that intensity.

![Hurricane Milton](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Hurricane_Milton_ca79d3a9b9.JPG)

**There's no official Category 6**—or greater—for hurricanes. The current intensity measurement for hurricanes is the Saffir-Simpson Scale, which is assigns a rating—of 1 to 5—based on a hurricane's maximum sustained wind speed in which the categories increase by around 20 mph increments.

**Category 1**: Wind speeds between 74 to 95 mph

**Category 2**: Wind speeds between 96 and 110 mph

**Category 3**: Wind speeds between 111-129 mph; is considered a "major" hurricane

**Category 4**: Wind speeds between 130-156 mph; is considered a "major" hurricane

**Category 5**: Wind speeds 157 mph and higher; is considered a "major" hurricane

Some tropical experts and scientists have tossed around the idea, proposing a new category—Category 6—be added to the Saffir-Simpson Scale designated for the most intense hurricanes that approach wind speeds of 200 mph. Some of these experts suggest this is needed because of the potential increase in intensity of hurricanes as the climate changes—such that the Saffir-Simpson Scale, developed more than five decades ago, may not show the true potential and power of the most intense hurricanes. The proposal is that hurricanes that achieve maximum sustained winds of 192+ mph be classified as Category 6.

While this Category 6 idea has been proposed, and could be a real possibility in the future, don't expect it any time soon.

Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton has 180 mph winds. Could it become a Category 6?

Category 6?

Milton is now a Major Category 4 Hurricane as of Monday morning. The speed in which Milton intensified is unfathomable. The Hurricane intensified from 90 mph Sunday night (11 pm) to 155 mph Monday morning (11 am) which is a 65 mph increase in just 12 hours. The central pressure fell from 977 mb to 933 mb, a 44 mb drop, in just 12 hours.

To qualify as rapid intensification (RI), a tropical cyclone must undergo a 35 mph increase in wind speed in a 24-hour period, so Milton's intensification is beyond RI or more like a super RI. As of Monday morning, Milton is just 2 mph away from becoming a Category 5 Hurricane. This will likely happen.

**Latest look at Hurricane Milton via satellite**
![Latest look at Hurricane Milton via satellite](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Latest_look_at_Hurricane_Milton_via_satellite_9cffbc6094.png)

It should be noted, Milton is not forecast to make landfall as a Category 5 Hurricane but could make landfall as a Category 3—still a Major Hurricane.

Latest look at Hurricane Milton via satellite

Milton undergoes super rapid intensification, nearing Category 5 status.

Milton undergoes super rapid intensification, nearing CAT 5

Milton explodes overnight undergoing rapid intensification into a Major Category 3 Hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. Additional strengthening is forecast over the next 24-36 hours. Landfall is forecast in Florida late Wednesday as a Major Hurricane.

**Latest advisory on Milton from the NHC (7AM Monday)**
![Latest advisory on Milton from the NHC (7AM Monday)](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Latest_advisory_on_Milton_from_the_NHC_7_AM_Monday_beac40fd0b.jpg)

Latest advisory on Milton from the NHC (7AM Monday)

Milton explodes overnight undergoing rapid intensification into a Major Category 3 Hurricane.

Milton explodes into Major Category 3 Hurricane

The latest update from the National Hurricane Center calls for a Major Category 3 Hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph with higher gusts. This new advisory also calls for Milton to potentially maintain that peak intensity as it nears the western Florida peninsula on Wednesday—either late morning or early afternoon--tropical storm-force winds begin late Tuesday, increasing to hurricane-force by early Wednesday.

**Latest (Saturday evening) NHC forecast cone for Milton**
![ Latest (Saturday evening) NHC forecast cone for Milton](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Latest_Saturday_evening_NHC_forecast_cone_for_Milton_8d10f87618.jpg)

**Latest (Saturday evening) NHC forecast cone for Milton-hyperlocal**
![ Latest (Saturday evening) NHC forecast cone for Milton-hyperlocal](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Latest_Saturday_evening_NHC_forecast_cone_for_Milton_hyperlocal_59212217dc.jpg)

This intensity and trajectory of Milton will create a large storm surge for parts of the western Florida Peninsula coastline. The highest storm surge will be on the southern side of the hurricane as it moves east toward Florida, potentially 10-15 feet in some cases. The specifics will be ironed out over the coming day(s).

While the latest forecast has the center of the cone directly over Tampa Bay, which would potentially make this quite devastating for the city, it does not mean the eye will track directly over Tampa. Instead, it could lie anywhere within the cone. Regardless of landfall location, impacts from this hurricane will be felt well beyond where the center makes landfall so, please prepare if you live anywhere in Florida.

Keep a close eye on the forecast for important updates. 

 Latest (Saturday evening) NHC forecast cone for Milton-hyperlocal

Milton is forecast to become a Major Category 3 Hurricane making landfall in Florida midweek.

Milton to become Major Category 3 Hurricane, Florida landfall midweek

Tropical Depression Fourteen formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico Saturday morning, quickly becoming Tropical Storm Milton.

**Tropical Storm Milton NHC forecast cone**
![TD14 NHC forecast cone](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/TD_14_NHC_forecast_cone_0c78c557a7.jpg)

This storm is quickly organizing, driven by the abnormally warm water temperatures. Milton has winds of 40 mph and is moving NNE at 3 mph and has observed a noticeable increase in convection with the area of low pressure over the past 12 hours.

**Current satellite imagery of TD14**
![Current satellite imagery of TD14](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/Current_satellite_imagery_of_TD_14_4b2f0e9b35.png)

Ahead of Milton, the water temperatures remain above normal and environmental conditions will favor intensification this weekend, through midweek, before landfall along the western Florida peninsula as potentially a high-end category 2 or low-end category 3 hurricane sometime Wednesday morning. Regardless of category 2 or 3 status, impacts will be the same so don't focus on whether or not it'll be a 2 or 3. At this time, the areas that could see landfall are between Cedar Key to Everglades City. This means Tampa and Fort Myers are in that zone. Over the next 36 to 48 hours, models will continue to tighten and hone-in on a most probable landfall region.

Deadly storm surge and heavy rain that will lead to life-threatening flooding are two big concerns with Milton. Wind and tornadoes are additional hazards. Please review your hurricane and evacuation plans this weekend and be in go-mode once local officials make the call. Now is a good time to go the grocery store to get essentials before it gets too hectic.

The majority of impacts with Milton will be realized in Florida, and at this time, moisture is forecast to stay south of the heavily impacted areas from Helene in western North Carolina, upstate South Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and northeastern Georgia. Keep checking back for updates.

TD14 NHC forecast cone

Milton forms in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, forecast to become a hurricane, making landfall in Florida midweek.

Milton forms in the Gulf, could become Major Hurricane

A broad area of low pressure is forming in the western Gulf of Mexico. Additional, gradual development is possible over the next few days and a tropical or subtropical storm could form around the Monday-Tuesday timeframe of next week.

The National Hurricane Center has increased the odds for development to 70% over the next 7-days.

**NHC forecast**
[NHC forecast](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/NHC_forecast_5962901e1e.JPG)

This system is the remnants of Tropical Depression 11 from the Eastern Pacific (its associated moisture and vorticity--or spin) pairing with another broad area of disturbed weather, which are expected to form into a new area of low pressure. This new area of low pressure could form into a tropical or subtropical storm over the next few days as it slowly moves east-northeast toward the central Gulf of Mexico. There's been a noticeable trend in this scenario over the past few days with numerical guidance jumping on board. 

While there are questions about the exact evolution of this system, there's good agreeance that this system will move toward Florida, increasing rain chances next week. If this system develops, it'll near the western Florida peninsula coast sometime around Wednesday next week, possibly lingering over the state through the end of the week, producing widespread heavy rainfall. Regardless of development or intensity, increased rain and associated flooding is likely for Florida next week where locally up to a foot of rain could fall across the Florida peninsula.

**WPC 7-day rainfall forecast**
[WPC 7-day rainfall forecast](https://firsthandweather.s3.amazonaws.com/WPC_7_day_rainfall_forecast_b204da8f05.png)

Interests in Florida should closely monitor the forecast. Milton is the next name. Rain from this system is not forecast for Tennessee and North Carolina.

NHC forecast

A broad area of low pressure is forming in the western Gulf of Mexico. Additional, gradual development is possible over the next few days and a tropical or subtropical storm could form around the Monday-Tuesday timeframe of next week. Flooding likely in Florida next week.

All blogs

Category 6?

Milton undergoes super rapid intensification, nearing CAT 5

Milton explodes into Major Category 3 Hurricane

Milton to become Major Category 3 Hurricane, Florida landfall midweek

Milton forms in the Gulf, could become Major Hurricane

New system developing in the Gulf, flooding likely in Florida