Hurricane Melissa is in uncommon territory for an Atlantic storm, each when it comes to its most sustained winds of 175 mph and its extraordinarily low air stress studying. However, there have been storms stronger than this one within the Atlantic Ocean Basin.
Some of them have occurred in simply the previous few years, equivalent to Hurricanes Milton, Dorian and Irma, every of which had stronger most sustained winds than Melissa. Dorian’s most sustained winds peaked at 185 mph in 2019, whereas Milton and Irma maxed out at 180 mph.
Of all Atlantic storms, Hurricane Allen in 1980 is the one to beat – with prime winds of 190 mph.
Using wind pace alone, Melissa is solidly among the many prime 20 strongest Atlantic hurricanes, with the potential to maneuver up in rating if it intensifies additional in a single day.
Ranked using its surface air pressure, the storm is much more spectacular – it’s quantity 6 of the highest 10 most intense storms since 1979 (when such dependable knowledge started), in line with Colorado State University hurricane researcher Philip Klotzbach.
In basic, decrease stress equals a stronger storm, together with wind speeds. Melissa, with a central stress of 901 millibars so far, is stronger than Katrina and stands in line solely behind such infamous storms as Wilma and Rita.