(KTEN) – The National Hurricane Center has upgraded Hurricane Ian to a Category 5 storm in a post-storm analysis that is performed on all Atlantic tropical cyclones. Ian was able to reach Category 5 strength with winds sustained at 160 MPH shortly before making landfall in southwest Florida.

 

This makes Ian the second known Category 5 storm to impact southwest Florida. The infamous 1935 Labor Day Hurricane was the other Category 5 storm.

 

Ian was most notable for its historic storm surge. 15 feet of storm surge flooding was observed along Fort Myers Beach, Florida, the highest storm surge ever recorded in southwest Florida.

 

If you want to learn more about Hurricane Ian, you can read the NHC’s post-storm analysis of the tropical cyclone by clicking on this link: Hurricane Ian Post-Storm Analysis