Hurricane Milton: Why Hurricanes Are Becoming Stronger and More Dangerous

The state of Florida, USA, is on high alert as Hurricane Milton, a category 4 storm, approaches. This marks the second major hurricane to hit the region in just two weeks. With winds reaching 155 mph (250 km/h) along Mexico’s coast, Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday, October 9.

Governor Ron DeSantis has urged residents in high-risk areas to evacuate immediately, warning that time is running out to ensure safety.

Just two weeks ago, Hurricane Helene, also a category 4 storm, struck the state’s west coast, resulting in the tragic loss of 255 lives across Florida, Georgia, and other southeastern states. North Carolina was hit particularly hard.

According to NOAA (the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), current atmospheric and oceanic conditions have set the stage for an extremely active hurricane season, potentially one of the busiest on record. In an August report, the agency forecasted between 17 to 24 tropical storms by the end of the season, with up to 13 becoming hurricanes. Of these, 4 to 7 could reach major hurricane status.

Hurricanes rated category 3 or higher have sustained winds exceeding 111 mph (178 km/h). With Milton reaching category 4, it is approaching the upper limit of the scale, which caps at category 5, reserved for storms with winds exceeding 157 mph (252 km/h).

The 2024 season could become one of the most intense in history, approaching the records set in 2005 and 2020, when each season saw seven major hurricanes.

One of the factors contributing to this heightened activity is the weakening of the El Niño pattern and the likely shift to La Niña conditions, which create a more favorable atmosphere for hurricane formation in the Atlantic.

NOAA has predicted a “below-normal” hurricane season for the Central Pacific, but the Atlantic remains highly active, with the potential for more devastating storms.

Why Do Hurricanes Have Names?

Hurricanes are named by the World Meteorological Organization, which uses six rotating name lists that repeat every six years. Naming hurricanes helps communicate warnings to the public more effectively, reducing confusion during emergencies.

For the 2024 hurricane season, the names include: Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Francine, Gordon, Helene, Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, Leslie, Milton, Nadine, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sara, Tony, Valerie, and William.

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