What is rapid intensification? The hurricane trend forecasters watch

Name: What is rapid intensification? Hurricane term explained
Uploaded: 2026-09-08T12:00:05.000Z
Duration: 38 s
Channel: The Weather Channel
Description: It's a 35-mph jump in winds in 24 hours, and more hurricanes are doing it. Rapid intensification can help storms cause devastation to coasts and well inland.

ByAndrea RainoneandRob Shackelford•

September 8, 2026

Updated: September 8, 2026, 11:31 am EDTPublished: September 8, 2026, 11:22 pm EDT

Rapid intensification means that the wind speeds of a tropical system increase by 35 mph in under 24 hours. Storms that rapidly intensify can bring devastation to the coastline with heavy rain, storm surge and gusty winds. These storms can also bring impacts inland to communities not used to tropical storm or even hurricane conditions. Meteorologist Rob Shackelford breaks down rapid intensification.