Historic 252 mph Gust in Hurricane Melissa Confirmed — New Dropsonde Record

Scientists have verified an extraordinary 252 mph peak wind gust measured by a dropsonde in Hurricane Melissa as the storm approached Jamaica, marking the highest wind speed ever recorded by these expendable probes.

The gust was captured on Oct. 28 by a dropsonde released from NOAA's Hurricane Hunter aircraft "Kermit." Andy Hazelton, an associate scientist at the University of Miami who was aboard the flight, said the reading immediately stood out when it extended beyond the edge of the instrument's graph display.

"I knew it was a potentially historic observation," Hazelton said. "It was sobering to see it happen right near landfall."

NOAA contacted the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the National Science Foundation — which developed the dropsonde technology — to request an independent verification. Holger Vömel, a senior scientist with NCAR's dropsonde program, said the agency asked whether the unusually high numbers were reliable.

"They have pilots and researchers literally putting their lives on the line to get these measurements," V�mel said. "It’s a privilege to help ensure the measurements are accurate."

NCAR ran the gust through rigorous quality-control checks, confirmed the values obeyed physical consistency and typical hurricane behavior, and found no anomalies. The verified 252 mph reading exceeds the previous dropsonde record of 248 mph, measured in Typhoon Megi in 2010.

Dropsondes are released through a chute from hurricane-hunting aircraft to collect wind, pressure, temperature and humidity at low altitudes that would be unsafe for aircraft to sample directly. The instrument transmitted its measurements as it descended through intense winds and rain before plunging into the Caribbean south of Jamaica.

Melissa struck Jamaica on Oct. 28 as a Category 5 hurricane, producing surface winds above 150 mph and peak sustained winds near 185 mph, making it one of the most intense Atlantic storms on record. Officials have attributed at least 90 deaths to the storm — including 45 in Jamaica — and Jamaican authorities estimate damages of at least $8.8 billion. The storm also caused fatalities in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

"Near-surface measurements from dropsondes are critical," said Terry Hock, an engineer who manages NCAR's dropsonde program. "The National Hurricane Center and forecast models need that information because it's where people and property are most affected."

Researchers and engineers at NCAR and partner institutions continue to refine dropsonde instruments and analytical tools to improve forecasts and assessments of storm impacts. The verified 252 mph gust highlights both the immense power of major hurricanes and the importance of high-quality observational data for protecting communities.

Reporting: Dinah Voyles Pulver.