CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hurricane Erin will be remembered not only for its coastal impacts, but for how quickly it powered up.
In just one day, Erin’s winds increased by 85 miles per hour, when it went from a Category 1 hurricane on Friday to a Category 5 Saturday. This makes it one of the fastest intensifying hurricanes in Atlantic history.
Rapid intensification is when a storm’s winds increase by 35 miles per hour or more in 24 hours.
Erin went well beyond that threshold. Now referred to as extreme rapid intensification, it means a hurricane’s winds grow by at least 58 miles per hour in a 24-hour span.
Here’s how Erin compares to some of the most explosive storms in Atlantic history:
Erin ties with Lee for fifth fastest intensifying hurricane in the Atlantic.
Erin is especially noteworth