Gulf 'Pressure Point' May Have Fueled Hurricane Ian's Rapid Intensification

Researchers at the University of South Florida have discovered that a failure of the Loop Current to circulate water in the shallow region of the Gulf of Mexico led to unusually warm waters off the West Florida Shelf before Hurricane Ian, potentially contributing to its rapid intensification. Using data from the Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System (COMPS), they found that the Loop Current's failure to reach a 'pressure point' prevented sufficient water mixing, keeping both surface and subsurface waters warm. This study highlights the importance of monitoring subsurface temperatures for accurate hurricane intensity prediction.