Oops, our last post was not as accurate as it could/should have been. Here is an updated list that shows Hurricane Dorian now as the 9th strongest Atlantic Hurricane (based on minimum Barometric pressure).
Why use Barometric pressure? We have been flying into Hurricanes since the 1940's. The term Hurricane Hunters began in 1946 and the Barometric pressure is measured in the central of the eye where the winds are calmest. Measuring wind speeds at the surface is a challenge at levels above 100mph as the instruments measuring the winds can be damaged. This is exactly what happened to Hurricane Camille when it made landfall as all the wind instruments were damaged/destroyed so the winds of 175mph are only estimates.
Hurricane Wilma 2005 – Minimum central pressure 882mb. Also holds the record for smallest diameter eye center at only 2nm wide.
Hurricane Gilbert 2008 – Minimum central pressure 888mb. Noted for dropping 70mb in a 24hrs period.
Florida Keys Labor Day Hurricane 1935 – Minimum central pressure 892mb
Hurricane Rita 2005 – Minimum central pressure 895mb
Hurricane Camile 1969 – Minimum central pressure 900mb
Hurricane Mitch 1998 – Minimum central pressure 905mb
Hurricane Dean 2007 – Minimum Central pressure 905mb
Hurricane Maria 2017 – Minimum Central pressure 908mb
Hurricane Dorian 2019 – minimum Central pressure 910mb
Hurricane Allen 1980 – Minimum central pressure 911mb
Hurricane Michael 2018 – Minimum central pressure 919mb
Other notable Hurricanes but not as strong as Dorian…
Hurricane Katrina 2005 – Minimum central pressure 920mb
Hurricane Andrew 1992 – minimum central pressure 922mb
And we have a developing tropical depression/storm in the Gulf of Mexico and two other tropical disturbances across the Atlantic Basin with a new/strong tropical wave expected to move off the coast of Africa later in the week.
Looks like September is trying to make up for a relatively quiet June to mid August.