Hurricane Melissa is one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic

Hurricane Melissa is one of the strongest hurricanes to form in the Atlantic Ocean since records were recorded, ranking among the most powerful storms in terms of wind strength and pressure.

The stormformed last week, was an ‘extremely dangerous’ group Category 5 hurricane as it made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

With maximum sustained winds of 185 mph, Melissa was tied with two other hurricanes for the strongest hurricane on record in the Atlantic. Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and a 1935 storm known as the Labor Day hurricane, before the storms were named as they are today, both recorded winds of 185 mph when they made landfall.

Two other Atlantic storms also recorded similarly powerful winds at one time, but were less extreme when they made landfall: Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 and Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

Hurricane Allen in 1980 had the strongest winds, recorded at 190 mph.

The strength of a hurricane is also measured by its pressure, measured in millibars. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, hurricanes generally become stronger as their pressure decreases.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Melissa had a minimum central pressure of 892 millibars, tied with the 1935 Labor Day hurricane.

Only Gilbert and Wilma were ahead of Melissa. Wilma recorded a minimum sea level pressure of 882 millibars and Gilbert a minimum central pressure of 888 millibars.