As Hurricane Milton churns toward the Florida coast, Lt. Cmdr. Josh Rannenberg, the lead pilot of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hurricane Hunters, shares his harrowing experience inside the storm. With a mission that involved flying into the eye of Milton, Rannenberg and his team gathered critical data that will inform forecasts and safety advisories as the hurricane approaches landfall.
A Close Encounter with a Category 5 Monster
Rannenberg embarked on a daring mission at 3 a.m. on Wednesday, completing multiple passes through the storm over a nine-hour period. “When we got to the eye of the storm, it was still a Category 5 hurricane,” he recounted in an interview with ABC News’ David Muir. “I watched it grow from a tropical storm to a Cat-5 monster within two missions—it's the fastest I've ever seen anything rapidly intensify.”
As the hurricane approached Florida’s west coast, the National Weather Service issued urgent warnings for residents to shelter in place. Although Milton’s sustained winds had decreased to 120 mph—classifying it as a high-end Category 3 storm—the storm had expanded, unleashing heavy rain and tropical storm-force winds across much of the Florida peninsula. Fort Myers Beach reported a wind gust of 68 mph, further emphasizing the hurricane's reach and power.
The "Stadium Effect" Inside the Eye
Rannenberg described a surreal experience as he flew into the eye of Hurricane Milton, likening it to a "stadium effect." “Inside the eye, the air was much smoother, and the clouds looked like a stadium building around us,” he explained. “At 8,000 feet, we could see all the way down to the ocean, with towering cloud tops exceeding 55,000 feet above us.” The juxtaposition of calmness in the eye against the chaotic storm surrounding it left a lasting impression on the seasoned pilot.
A Storm Like No Other
Having flown through numerous hurricanes in his career, Rannenberg stated that Hurricane Milton is unparalleled in intensity. “This is the craziest storm I’ve ever flown inside of—hands down,” he said. “The worst turbulence, the most lightning, the deepest convection, and the sheer breadth of the storm are incredible.” His firsthand account underscores the remarkable power of nature, reminding us of the importance of preparedness in the face of such threats.
As Hurricane Milton nears landfall, the impact is already being felt across Florida. As of 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, over 293,000 customers were without power, highlighting the storm's disruptive force. In light of the impending danger, President Joe Biden addressed the nation, urging residents in the storm's path to heed local officials’ instructions. “Evacuation is probably difficult at this point,” he said. “I encourage people to look for safer shelter; sometimes moving just a few miles can mean the difference between life and death.”