Category 5 Storm: How ocean heat made Hurricane Milton so dangerous in Florida

Ocean heat triggered Hurricane Milton’s rapid intensification from Category 1 to Category 5, with winds reaching 180 mph, making it the fifth most intense Atlantic hurricane. Experts are concerned it may regain strength despite slight weakening. Greenhouse gases and record-high ocean temperatures are driving more storms like Milton. The deeper, warmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico played a crucial role in its growth. Recent decades have seen a worrying increase in the number of powerful hurricanes, linked to rising global temperatures.