I'm trying to find out if this is some kind of record- from a TS to a cat 4 in under 24 hours
I took a short nap only to wake up and find out she increased another 15 mph. This intensification probably is a record. When did she become a Cat 1, around 9 AM yesterday? Even if it isn't a record, it's astonishing.
The fastest intensification on record was Typhoon Forrest: dropped 100 mb (from 976 to 876) and increased 98 mph (from 75mph to 173mph) in 24 hours. The record for the Atlantic is Hurricane Gilbert: dropped 72 mb (from 960 to 888) and increased 57mph (from 127mph to 154mph) in 24 hours.
I'm not sure yet how Rita compares. I'll try to figure it out.