When Ferdinand Magellan rounded the tip of South America in 1521, he encountered favourable winds. He named the ocean Mar Pacifico meaning “peaceful sea” in Portuguese. Today, Hurricane Patricia, the most powerful tropical cyclone ever measured in the Western Hemisphere, is expected to make landfall on the Mexican west coast near the resort cities of Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo. This morning, the hurricane’s maximum sustained winds were measured an unprecedented 200 mph (320 kph). Weather.com reports that Hurricane Patricia now also holds the record for lowest pressure in any hurricane on record. With a minimum central pressure of 880 millibars (25.99 inches of mercury) at the 4 a.m. CDT advisory, Patricia broke the record of 882 millibars set by Wilma almost exactly 10 years ago. Perhaps, Magellan could have chosen a better name for the, so often, less than “peaceful” Pacific Ocean.
How they measuring powerful?
By the millibars?
We’ve had Cat 5 hurricanes before.
Got this from the Daily Mail, NOAA only gives readings and direction.
The worst hurricane ever: Catastrophic category five storm with 200mph winds and 40ft waves barrels towards Mexico
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3285166/Storm-Patricia-strengthens-dangerous-Category-4-hurricane.html
From hurricane Patricia, rain all the way up into Canada.
http://www.goes.noaa.gov/dml/east/nhem/eaus/rb.html
Patricia roars into Mexico — then quickly crumbles
CNN – 5 mins ago
Patricia was a Category 5 hurricane when it roared into southwestern Mexico then quickly .
https://www.cnn.com/2015/10/24/americas/hurricane-patricia/
Hurricane photos
Floods even derailed a gravel train
Mexican mountains break-up Patricia – touted to be the ‘world’s worst hurricane’ – as it fizzles to storm category leaving no fatalities… but now America is under threat from floods
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3287574/Mexican-mountains-break-Hurricane-Patricia-biggest-Pacific-storm-causes-expected-damage-no-fatalities-residents-face-flooding-mudslides.html