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yesterday

NSF NCAR Confirms 252 MPH Gust in Hurricane Melissa as New Dropsonde Record

The research center validated the dropsonde reading through quality checks to confirm physical consistency.

An NRD41 dropsonde, like the ones dropped into Hurricane Melissa, is seen inside Hurricane Irma. The dropsonde technology is developed by the National Science Foundation's National Center for Atmospheric Research and manufactured by Vaisala.
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This satellite image provided by NOAA shows Tropical Storm Melissa on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (NOAA via AP)
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Overview

  • A NOAA Hurricane Hunters dropsonde recorded the 252 mph gust near the ocean surface shortly before splashdown as Melissa approached Jamaica.
  • NSF NCAR reports the value passed automated quality control and aligned with the storm’s structure, with no anomalies in the data stream.
  • The measurement eclipses the previous dropsonde record of 248 mph set during Typhoon Megi in 2010.
  • Earlier apparent records, including a Katrina reading, were rejected after data problems, highlighting the program’s verification rigor.
  • Dropsonde observations feed forecasts and warnings, as Melissa’s Category 5 landfall in Jamaica caused at least 90 deaths and billions in damage.