Hurricane Melissa: A Historical Powerhouse in the Atlantic

Marked as one of the most intense hurricanes ever observed in the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Melissa's legacy includes both formidable wind speeds and remarkably low pressure, securing its place in history.

This formidable storm was categorized as 'extremely hazardous' by the U.S. National Hurricane Center when it threatened Jamaica on a Tuesday during its development last week.

Hurricane Melissa achieved a peak with continuous winds hitting 185 mph, paralleling some of the historically strong hurricanes including Dorian in 2019, 1988's Gilbert, Wilma in 2005, and the infamous Labor Day hurricane from 1935, marking the era before hurricanes received official names.

However, the record for the highest recorded winds in the Atlantic remains with Hurricane Allen from 1980, which reached an astonishing 190 mph.

The strength of a hurricane isn't solely determined by wind speed; atmospheric pressure is another crucial indicator. Hurricanes intensify as their central pressure drops, as explained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

As of the recent Tuesday morning report, Melissa had an impressive pressure reading of 892 millibars, making it one of the most intense systems based on pressure.

Only Wilma and Gilbert featured stronger pressure readings, with Wilma at 882 millibars and Gilbert at 888 millibars respectively, placing Melissa third in terms of central pressure.

Jamaica Braces for Impact as Melissa Advances

Jamaica's infrastructure, according to the Prime Minister, is not equipped to endure the onslaught of a Category 5 hurricane like Melissa, underscoring the potential threat to the region.