Study Finds 'Pressure Point' In the Gulf Could Drive Hurricane Strength

Researchers from the University of South Florida have discovered that Hurricane Ian’s rapid intensification from Category 3 to Category 5 was driven by unusually warm waters in the Gulf, due to the Loop Current failing to mix surface and subsurface temperatures. This lack of upwelling near a critical “pressure point” led to the warm conditions that contributed to the storm’s strength before it made landfall in Florida on September 28, 2022.

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