TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Hurricane Melissa is a prime example of rapid intensification with tropical cyclones. As of the 11 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center, the major hurricane has reached 185 mph with gusts over 200 mph.
Melissa has already brought storm surge flooding to the island, and catastrophic conditions are expected to continue throughout Tuesday. Impacts include rainfall of up to 30 inches, life-threatening storm surge flooding, and hurricane-force winds exceeding 180 mph. This will lead to significant damage to homes, buildings and property.
Tracking Melissa
The latest category five storm to brew in the Atlantic has become one of the strongest recorded since 1842, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Historical Hurricane Tracks. The hurricane is tied with the Labor Day storm as the strongest hurricane to make landfall.
Melissa compares to storms like Wilma, Dorian and Irma:
Storm NameYearMinimum PressureWilma2005882 mbGilbert1988888 mbMelissa2025892 mbLabor Day 19351935892 mbRita2005895 mb
Below is a look at storm intensity by wind speed:
Storm NameYearWind SpeedMinimum Pressure Allen1980190 mph899 mbMelissa2025185 mph892 mbDorian2019185 mph910 mbWilma2005185 mph882 mbGilbert1988185 mph888 mbUnnamed 19351935185 mph892 mbMilton2024180 mph895 mbIrma2017180 mph914 mbRita2005180 mph895 mbMitch1998180 mph905 mb
Melissa is now tied with the second strongest storm in Atlantic Basin history between 2025 and 1842. The strongest hurricane recorded globally was Hurricane Patricia in the eastern Pacific off the southern Mexican coast.
Patricia has sustained winds peaking at 215 mph according to NOAA. The minimum central pressure fell to 872 mb. Rapid pressure falls are directly related to increasing wind speed. Often with strong tropical cyclones, the lower the pressure, the stronger the winds.
You can track the latest on Melissa by checking out WCTV First Alert Weather Now. Weather steaming 24/7.
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