Meteorologists confirmed this week that a wind gust recorded in Hurricane Melissa’s eyewall was the strongest ever measured by a Hurricane Hunters tool known as a dropsonde.

The Category 5 storm devastated Jamaica when it slammed into the western half of the island at peak intensity in late October.

DON’T MISS: THE INCREDIBLE HISTORY AND TOOLS OF THE HURRICANE HUNTERS

HISTORIC WIND GUST RECORDED BY DROPSONDE

NOAA Hurricane Hunters released a dropsonde into Hurricane Melissa’s powerful eyewall on the morning of Oct. 28, 2025, just several hours before the storm struck Jamaica at full strength.

[Hurricane Melissa Historic Wind Gust] Hurricane Melissa Historic Wind Gust

The instrument recorded an astounding wind gust of 406 KM/H (252 MPH) a few hundred metres above the ocean’s surface.

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