ORLANDO, Fla. – Hurricane Melissa just made more Atlantic basin history.
During routine post-season analysis it was found that the storms peak intensity reached 190 mph, up from 185 mph.
Last October, Melissa became a historic storm making landfall in Jamaica as 185 mph category 5 hurricane. This maximum sustained wind tied Dorian and the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 for strongest hurricane landfalls in the Atlantic basin.
At the time, that was Melissa’s peak intensity.
Upon further review during routine post-season analysis, the storm was found to have winds even stronger.
During the storm, satellite data and instruments from Hurricane Hunter aircraft suggested the storm may have touched 190 mph. Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center confirmed it.
The 190 mph confirmation now ties Melissa with Hurricane Allen from 1980.
From a pressure perspective, Melissa stands as tied for the third most intense hurricane on record.