Flossi Supports Hurricane Relief Efforts

The most powerful hurricane ever recorded based on sustained wind speeds is Hurricane Patricia in 2015. Patricia reached peak sustained winds of 215 mph (345 km/h), making it the strongest tropical cyclone ever measured in the Western Hemisphere. It made landfall on Mexico’s Pacific coast, but despite its extreme power, the mountainous terrain reduced its impact on densely populated areas, limiting widespread devastation.

In terms of the lowest central pressure, another measure of a hurricane's strength, Typhoon Tip in 1979 holds the record for the lowest pressure at 870 millibars (mb), making it the most intense tropical cyclone on record worldwide. Typhoon Tip struck the western Pacific Ocean, but fortunately, it weakened significantly before making landfall in Japan.

 Other Notable Hurricanes:

- Hurricane Katrina (2005): Although not the most powerful, Katrina is infamous for the catastrophic damage it caused in New Orleans due to flooding.

- Hurricane Irma (2017): With winds reaching 180 mph, Irma was one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record.

Hurricane Dorian (2019) devastated the Bahamas with winds up to 185 mph and caused widespread destruction.