Hurricane Idalia and Rapid Intensification

Rapid Intensification is a term you’ve probably heard a lot of meteorologists and hurricane experts throw around in the last few years. With Hurricane Idalia’s landfall strength upgraded to major hurricane status this week, here’s a summary of what Rapid Hurricane Intensification (RHI) is and why it makes storms like Idalia so dangerous.

Hurricanes are complex atmospheric phenomena that can undergo rapid intensification, leading to drastic increases in wind speeds and potential devastation. The phenomenon of rapid hurricane intensification, defined as a substantial increase in maximum sustained winds of at least 30 knots in a 24-hour period, has gained considerable attention due to its potential to catch both forecasters and residents off guard.

Hurricanes Harvey (2017), Irma (2017) and Michael (2018) are three storms Gulf Coast residents know we…