Jeff Berardelli is WFLA's Chief Meteorologist and Climate Specialist. For the latest updates on Tampa Bay weather and climate, follow him on X and Bluesky.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Hurricane Melissa's landfall was the strongest landfall on record in the Atlantic — tied with the 1935 Florida Keys Labor Day hurricane.

Both storms had winds of 185 mph and a pressure of 892 mb at landfall.

But that's not the only record worth discussing in today's Berardelli Bonus.

Here are some others: • Strongest Atlantic landfall (Tie) • Third strongest Atlantic hurricane (Tie) • World record driest/clearest eye • Third 2025 cat 5 (Second most) • Fourth extreme rapid intensification episode of 2025 (Tied for first place)

The reason Melissa was able to get so strong is it was positioned over the h

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