The sucker-punch speed comes from two main factors, according to a scientist: sea surface temperature and lack of wind shear. Warm water acts as fuel, and wind shear, which knocks storms off balance, acts as a deterrent.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — It was a bit like a meteorological sucker punch. While most people had spent the previous week worrying about storms such as Emily, Gert, Herold and Franklin, Idalia took form off the Yucatan Peninsula and suddenly lashed out.
This kind of rapid ramping can catch people off guard, and it might be a trend, according to experts. “Recent findings do point to it happening more often, particularly for extreme rapid intensification events well beyond the threshold definition,” said Alex DesRosiers, of the department of atmospheric science at Colorado State University.Ian , which made landfall in Fort Myers as a Category 4.Michael , which made landfall in Mexico Beach as a Category 5 monster.
Sea surface temperatures need to be around 80 degrees or higher to be sufficient for hurricanes to form and intensify, DesRosiers said. Idalia experienced water temperatures close to 90 degrees as it passed over the Gulf.But there were two other factors that made Idalia especially punchy.
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