Rapid intensification: biggest worries about hurricanes

During the development of tropical systems, the biggest concern and worry for forecasters is rapid intensification.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center says rapid intensification occurs when the wind of a tropical system increases by 35 mph in a 24-hour period. The intensification can be faster and stronger, this is just the bare minimum. This is often accompanied by rapid deepening of a system’s central barometric pressure by at least 42 millibars.

The increase in a system’s intensity can cause a tropical storm to rapidly become a hurricane or a Category 1 hurricane to grow into a dangerous Category 3 or higher one.

The ingredients needed to produce the jump in a hurricane’s ferocity includes high sea surface temperatures, a deep pool of hot water and little change in the wind speeds, called wind shear, high in the atmosphere.

The most powerful hurricanes to hit the U.S. often go through this intensification. Gulf of Mexico hurricanes, including hurricanes Idalia, Michael and Katrina, intensified prior to landfall as they moved over the warm, energy-filled water of southern and eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Earlier this year, Hurricane Beryl rapidly intensified from a tropical depression to a hurricane in about 24 hours and became a Category 4 hurricane with 150 mph sustained winds within three days of forming. It would devastate the island of Carriacou, Grenada, on July 1st.

Weather & Radar meteorologists track the tropics and provide daily updates in the Breakfast Brief and special coverage when a hurricane threatens. Make sure you have your alerts turned on to receive information about the latest tropical weather near you.