Atlantic Basin — The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has officially upgraded Hurricane Melissa’s peak sustained winds to 190 miles per hour in its post-storm analysis, tying the storm with Hurricane Allen as the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded based on wind speed.
The revision places Melissa in rare historical territory. At 190 mph, it now shares the top position in Atlantic hurricane records, equaling Allen’s long-standing benchmark for peak sustained winds .
A Historic Upgrade in Post-Season Analysis
The NHC conducts detailed post-storm reviews after hurricane seasons conclude, reassessing satellite data, aircraft reconnaissance findings, and observational reports. In this case, that review determined that Melissa’s peak winds were stronger than originally estimated.
With the upgrade to 190 mph, Melissa now matches Allen as the most intense Atlantic hurricane on record when measured strictly by maximum sustained wind speed …