In an incredible display of nature's power, a drone managed to capture wave heights reaching 28.12 feet (eight and a half meters) just 60 kilometers from the center of Hurricane Milton. This occurred as the storm made its way across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida's shores on Wednesday.
The footage, recorded by a Saildrone device within the heart of the hurricane, also documented wind gusts exceeding 75.95 mph (122 km/h). The video was shared on social media platform X by the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, part of the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
"Within Hurricane Milton, @saildrone observed waves towering at 28.12 feet and wind gusts reaching up to 75.95 mph, located 40 nautical miles from the storm's center," the post highlighted. "This research is a collaborative effort to better understand the ocean's role in hurricanes."
Harnessing Technology to Understand Hurricanes
On its social media page, Saildrone expressed pride in supporting NOAA's ongoing endeavors to better comprehend and predict devastating events like Hurricane Milton. The company also extended well-wishes to those in the storm's path, hoping they remain safe during the tumultuous weather.
The striking images of colossal waves, driven by the intense winds of this tropical cyclone, are a testament to the storm's power. Although Hurricane Milton has recently been downgraded to a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale (which goes up to 5), it remains a formidable and dangerous force, as noted by the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Impact on Passengers and Landfall
Passengers aboard Royal Caribbean's cruise liner, Harmony of the Seas, witnessed firsthand the formidable strength of Hurricane Milton as it traversed the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, approaching Florida's western coast.
By 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the NHC announced that the eye of Hurricane Milton had made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County, Florida's west coast, according to Doppler radar data. The maximum sustained winds upon landfall were estimated at 120 mph (193 km/h).