NATL: MELISSA - Aftermath - Discussion: Josh Morgerman video of Melissa is up

[zzzh]

This is just another level

[dukeblue219]

Looks like the AF plane is going home. Must be shaken up.

Never got a VDM did we? And just a lone sonde in the eye? Must be crazy in there right now. I can only hope everyone is ok.

[ScottNAtlanta]

With an official intensity of 892 mb / 160 kt, Melissa now holds the records of:

• 3rd lowest pressure, behind Wilma and Gilbert, and tied with Labor Day
• 2nd highest wind speed, behind Allen, and tied with Labor Day, Gilbert, Wilma and Dorian
• Lowest pressure and highest wind speed at landfall if maintained until then, tied with Labor Day for both (and Dorian for wind speed)

Wasn't Camille 200mph?

[Teban54]

[Beef Stew]

We're really about to get the (tied) most intense Atlantic landfall on record... in Jamaica of all places. Absurd.

[Fancy1002]

219 knots on the eyewall drop. This is insane

Would that justify an upgrade to 190 or 195?

[Iune]

With an official intensity of 892 mb / 160 kt, Melissa now holds the records of:

• 3rd lowest pressure, behind Wilma and Gilbert, and tied with Labor Day
• 2nd highest wind speed, behind Allen, and tied with Labor Day, Gilbert, Wilma and Dorian
• Lowest pressure and highest wind speed at landfall if maintained until then, tied with Labor Day for both (and Dorian for wind speed)

Wasn't Camille 200mph?

Reanalysis in 2014 brought Camille's peak down to 175 mph. I believe it was 190 mph beforehand.

[Fancy1002]

With an official intensity of 892 mb / 160 kt, Melissa now holds the records of:

• 3rd lowest pressure, behind Wilma and Gilbert, and tied with Labor Day
• 2nd highest wind speed, behind Allen, and tied with Labor Day, Gilbert, Wilma and Dorian
• Lowest pressure and highest wind speed at landfall if maintained until then, tied with Labor Day for both (and Dorian for wind speed)

Wasn't Camille 200mph?

No, highest is Allen at 190.

[USTropics]

219 knots on the eyewall drop. This is insane

Yesterday's dropsonde measurement of 210kt was the highest ever recorded (this just set the new record).

[Beef Stew]

That's probably the craziest dropsonde I've ever seen

[MEANINGLESS_NUMBERS]

https://i.imgur.com/WxAyAiP.png
This is just another level

That's one for the record books

[michelinj]

219 knots on the eyewall drop. This is insane

Would that justify an upgrade to 190 or 195?

The dropsonde value was aloft not surface. And also those measuremnts are instantaneous. So they can find some even more extreme values than gust speed. Still incomprehensible however.

[TheHurricaneGod]

That's an over 250 MPH wind gust from a dropsonde!

[Extratropical94]

219 knots on the eyewall drop. This is insane

Would that justify an upgrade to 190 or 195?

165kt/190mph would definitely be justifiable with that data. There isn't a single reading below 170 knots in the lowest 100 mb.

[MEANINGLESS_NUMBERS]

219 knots on the eyewall drop. This is insane

Would that justify an upgrade to 190 or 195?

The dropsonde value was aloft not surface. And also those measuremnts are instantaneous. So they can find some even more extreme values than gust speed. Still incomprehensible however.

We know it is a gust and at elevation but it is still (BY FAR) the highest I have ever seen.

[Teban54]

The sickening thing is that, due to Jamaica's high elevation, it's plausible that some of the insane winds and gusts aloft in the dropsonade can actually be realized over land.

[wx98]

The NOAA plane may be leaving now as well.

[Beef Stew]

Melissa could very well be a 165 kt/190 mph storm...

[MEANINGLESS_NUMBERS]

The NOAA plane may be leaving now as well.

I wonder if they will say these passes were unsafe.

[Teban54]

Are both of the planes leaving? I was hoping for 1 last pass.

Given the absolutely insane eyewall and the AF plane's earlier struggles exiting it, it's more than reasonable for both crews to prioritize their safety. I have my utmost respect for them risking their lives to provide invaluable data for meteorology and the mankind.