Hurricane Melissa ties record for strongest winds in Atlantic

Melissa's 190 mph winds matched 1980's Hurricane Allen as the strongest on record in the Atlantic basin.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Hurricane Melissa, which claimed at least 95 lives last fall, has been upgraded by the National Hurricane Center after a post-season review. Melissa's estimated highest sustained winds topped out at 190 mph on October 28, tying it with 1980's Hurricane Allen as the hurricanes with the highest wind speed on record in the Atlantic basin. A wind gust of 252 mph was also measured by a dropsonde instrument, the highest ever recorded.

Why it matters

Melissa's rapid intensification and record-breaking wind speeds amazed even experienced hurricane scientists, highlighting the increasing threat of climate change-fueled extreme weather events. The upgrade also comes as the National Science Foundation has been directed to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research, which developed the dropsonde instruments used to measure Melissa's winds.

The details

At around the same time as Melissa's 190 mph sustained winds peaked, a wind gust of 252 mph was measured by a dropsonde instrument dropped by a Hurricane Hunter aircraft. This was the highest wind speed ever recorded by the expendable dropsonde instruments. Melissa made landfall in Jamaica several hours later with sustained winds of 185 mph, making it the strongest hurricane on record to hit the island.

  • On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa's estimated highest sustained winds topped out at 190 mph.
  • Melissa made landfall in Jamaica several hours after its peak winds were recorded.

The players

Hurricane Melissa

A record-breaking Atlantic hurricane that claimed at least 95 lives in 2025.

Hurricane Allen

A 1980 Atlantic hurricane that previously held the record for highest wind speeds, matching Melissa's 190 mph.

National Hurricane Center

The government agency that conducted a post-season review and upgraded Melissa's wind speeds.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The government agency that operates the Hurricane Hunter aircraft that measured Melissa's record-breaking wind gusts.

National Center for Atmospheric Research

The research center that developed the dropsonde instruments used to measure Melissa's winds, which is now being dismantled by White House directive.

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What they’re saying

“The blend of data (dropsondes, flight-level data, satellites, etc) suggested that this was as strong a storm as you will ever see in the Atlantic basin, and unfortunately this happened right before landfall.”

— Andrew Hazelton, hurricane scientist at the University of Miami (USA TODAY)

What’s next

The National Hurricane Center is finishing up its reviews of the 2025 hurricane season, with the new information about Melissa's wind speeds revealed in the final report posted on February 25, 2026.

The takeaway

Hurricane Melissa's record-breaking winds and rapid intensification highlight the growing threat of climate change-fueled extreme weather events in the Atlantic basin. The dismantling of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, which developed key hurricane monitoring instruments, raises concerns about the future of hurricane research and preparedness.