This isn't a huge surprise, given that Milton traveled across the same exceptionally warm Gulf of Mexico that Helene had recently transited. But the analysis does produce one striking result: Milton would have been a Category 2 storm at landfall if climate change weren't boosting its strength.

Hurricane Milton made landfall as Category 3 storm Wednesday night hours after tropical storm-force winds lashed Florida. Millions had been ordered to evacuate and bridges closed as the fluctuated in intensity, bringing damaging winds and flooding rains.