Fact Check: "Hurricane Milton intensified to Category 5 in just 36 hours."
What We Know
Hurricane Milton formed as a tropical depression on October 5, 2024, in the Gulf of Mexico. It quickly intensified into a tropical storm within hours of its formation. By October 6, just 24 hours after becoming a named storm, it had reached Category 1 status. The hurricane underwent rapid intensification, achieving Category 5 status by October 7, 2024, which means it intensified to Category 5 in approximately 36 hours from its initial formation as a tropical depression (NOAA, Hurricane Milton - Wikipedia).
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) defines rapid intensification as an increase in wind speed of at least 35 mph within a 24-hour period. Milton exceeded this definition, increasing its wind speed by 95 mph within the 24-hour period leading up to its Category 5 classification (NOAA, PDF Hurricane Milton).
Analysis
The claim that Hurricane Milton intensified to Category 5 in just 36 hours is substantiated by multiple reliable sources. The NHC and NOAA reports detail the timeline of Milton's development and intensification, confirming that it transitioned from a tropical depression to a Category 5 hurricane within this timeframe. The rapid intensification of Milton is noted as one of the most significant in recent history, only surpassed by hurricanes Wilma in 2005 and Felix in 2007 (Hurricane Milton - Wikipedia, PDF Post-Storm Summary Report on Hurricane Milton).
The sources cited are credible, as they come from established meteorological organizations and reputable news outlets. The NOAA and NHC are authoritative bodies in hurricane monitoring and reporting, ensuring the information is accurate and reliable. The Wikipedia entry, while user-edited, is backed by references from these authoritative sources, further validating the information presented.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that Hurricane Milton intensified to Category 5 in just 36 hours is accurate. The timeline provided by the National Hurricane Center and corroborated by other meteorological reports confirms that Milton underwent rapid intensification, reaching Category 5 status shortly after its formation.
