Hurricane Epsilon Is the Seventh Atlantic Storm to Rapidly Intensify in 2020

 Linda Lam

Published: October 21, 2020

Hurricane Epsilon rapidly intensified Tuesday into Wednesday, becoming the seventh storm this season to do so in the Atlantic Basin.

Epsilon strengthened into a hurricane late Tuesday as it tracked through the central Atlantic and quickly intensified from a 60 mph tropical storm at 2 p.m. EDT Tuesday to a 110 mph Category 2 hurricane at 2 p.m. EDT Wednesday.

(MORE: Hurricane Epsilon Forecast)

This rapid intensification occurred in an unusual area for this time of year. This is the farthest northeast that an Atlantic tropical cyclone has intensified so quickly this late in the season, according to Sam Lillo, a NOAA scientist based in Boulder, Colorado.

Hurricane Epsilon is the third tropical cyclone to rapidly intensify in the Atlantic Basin just this month.

The term rapid intensification applies to any tropical cyclone whose maximum sustained winds increase by at least 35 mph in 24 hours or less.

All but one of the seven systems that achieved rapid intensification this year became a hurricane. Only Gamma remained a tropical storm. Its peak maximum sustained winds reached 70 mph, just shy of hurricane status.

Tropical cyclone rapid intensification data for 2020 in the Atlantic Basin.

Conditions in the Gulf of Mexico have been generally favorable for tropical cyclones and three of the rapid intensifications occurred there: Hanna, Laura and Sally.

Prior to Epsilon, all the storms impacted land at some point, although Hurricane Teddy just brushed Bermuda and then slammed Atlantic Canada as a post-tropical cyclone.

Hurricane Epsilon may also brush Bermuda with tropical storm conditions as it passes to its east later this week.

Tracks of tropical cyclone that have rapidly intensified in the Atlantic Basin in 2020, as of Oct. 21.

Other Notable Rapid Intensifications

Hurricane Delta was particularly noteworthy since it set a record for the fastest strengthening from a tropical depression to a Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic Basin. It did so in just over 36 hours from Oct. 4 to Oct. 6.

Winds in Delta increased by 85 mph, more than double the criteria mentioned above for rapid intensification, in the 24 hours ending 11:20 a.m. EDT, Oct. 6.

(MORE: Hurricane Delta's Record Rapidly Intensification)

Hurricane Sally underwent a particularly quick intensification. Sally's maximum sustained winds increased by 60 mph in just 12 hours on Sept. 14. Hurricane Sally did not become a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) and made landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama, as a Category 2.

Hurricanes Laura, Teddy and Delta all reached major hurricane status. There is a chance that Epsilon could join this group and become a Category 3 hurricane before it weakens as it tracks northward.

Unsurprisingly, this year's strongest Atlantic hurricane, Laura, also rapidly intensified. Hurricane Laura had maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (Category 4) when it made landfall in southwestern Louisiana on Aug. 27.

(MORE: Hurricane Laura's Rapid Intensification in Satellite Images)

Satellite images of Hurricane Laura rapidly intensifying as it moved across the Gulf of Mexico in August 2020.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.