Hurricane Michael, which barreled into the Florida Panhandle in October, was actually a Category 5 storm when it hit the coast, scientists at the National Hurricane Center said Friday.
“Category 5 winds were likely experienced over a very small area at and near the coast, and the change in estimated wind speeds is of little practical significance in terms of the impacts associated with the storm,” the statement said.
The new estimate of 160 mph winds was made after a review of “available aircraft winds, surface winds, surface pressures, satellite intensity estimates and Doppler radar velocities — including data and analyses that were not available in real time,” the hurricane center said.
