hurricane patricia highest wind speed hurricane patricia highest wind speed

Incredibly, just 30 hours after peaking in intensity as the most powerful tropical cyclone ever measured in the Western Hemisphere, former Hurricane Patricia degenerated into a weak remnant low over northeast Mexico, its small circulation ripped apart over higher terrain inland. Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage, Storms of Category2 intensity often damage roofing material (sometimes exposing the roof) and inflict damage upon poorly constructed doors and windows. Struck Gulf Coast. Highest official wind speed ever recorded in a tropical cyclone: Hurricane Patricia with maximum sustained winds of 215 mph (345 km/h). Magazines, See What Winter Will Be Like Where You Live, Or create a free account to access more articles, This Is How Patricia Became The Strongest Hurricane Ever Recorded. For more on hurricanes see our In-Depth Report. Were going to be scratching our heads for a long time about this storm.. Cyclones form when ocean temperatures reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which heats the air just above the water. newsletter for analysis you wont find anywhereelse. Struck Caribbean, Yucatan Peninsula, Texas. Weather Bureau officially adopted the practice of using female names for hurricanes in 1953, which caused an uproar, according to The Weather Channel. Its probably the strongest shear that weve seen across the Caribbean. 100 millibars in 24 hours - fastest intensification ever recorded in western hemisphere and near world record. Poorly constructed signs and piers can receive considerable damage and many trees are uprooted or snapped. (April 1996) holds the record for the highest wind speed ever recorded. Storm surges like that happen when a storm pushes water levels above the normal tide line; in Katrina's case, that storm surge accounted for a majority of the 1,800 deaths the hurricane caused. Super Typhoon Violet (1961), 205 mph winds, 886 mb pressure. Conversely, a higher pressure indicates a weaker system. Water temperatures under Patrica may have approached 90 degrees. The 1900 Galveston hurricane, the deadliest natural disaster to hit the United States, peaked at an intensity that corresponds to a modern-day Category4 storm. These storms cause extensive beach erosion, while terrain may be flooded far inland. Made landfall as a Cat 4 in the Philippines. Patricia as a Category 5 with maximum sustained winds of 200 mph on Friday morning. Hurricanes that peaked at Category1 intensity and made landfall at that intensity include: Juan (1985), Ismael (1995), Danny (1997), Stan (2005), Humberto (2007), Isaac (2012), Manuel (2013), Earl (2016), Nate (2017), Barry (2019), Lorena (2019), Hanna (2020), Isaias (2020), Gamma (2020), Nicholas (2021), Pamela (2021), Julia (2022), Lisa (2022) and Nicole (2022). Laura has already caused severe damage to coastal communities and at least one fatality, according to. As of this morning, data from Air Force planes show peak winds (sustained for one minute) of 200 mph and a surface pressure bottoming out at 880 millibars (typical pressure at sea level is 1013 millibars). Depends on what youre measuring. How bad will Patricia be? Mirroring the utility of the Richter magnitude scale for describing earthquakes, he devised a 15 scale based on wind speed that showed expected damage to structures. Climate change is increasing the chances that storms develop high wind speeds. Now, meteorologists are pointing to heightened sea temperatures due to El Nio and global warming to explain how the storm caught them by surprise. Patricia caused an estimated $325 million in damage. H urricane Patricianow the strongest hurricane ever recordedsurprised meteorologists as it transformed over the course of a day from a run of the mill tropical . People estimated a pressure of 902 millibars, but that measurement was made with satellite estimates. Given its extreme winds of 165 mph at landfall, Hurricane Patricia could produce "potentially catastrophic" destruction near where the center moved inland, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. These areas (except the JTWC) use three-minute or ten-minute averaged winds to determine the maximum sustained wind speed, creating an important difference which frustrates direct comparison between maximum wind speeds of storms measured using the SaffirSimpson hurricane wind scale (usually 14% more intense) and those measured using a ten-minute interval (usually 12% less intense).[3]. Hurricane Patricia flared form tropical storm into a monster Category 5 hurricane in just 24 hours. Coastal flooding and pier damage are often associated with Category1 storms. It is the strongest hurricane in terms of reliably measured winds. Patricia the third strongest tropical cyclone in history (by wind). Both storms had a hurricane hunter aircraft inside of them to measure their top winds. Other areas use different scales to label these storms, which are called cyclones or typhoons, depending on the area. Subscribe to Here's the Deal, our politics newsletter. [20][21] Both of these scales are continuous, akin to the Richter scale;[22] however, neither of these scales have been used by officials. The following month, two storms with super-typhoon intensity Goni and Atsani marched across the Pacific in the same week that hasnt happened since 1997. [10] The agency cited various hurricanes as reasons for removing the "scientifically inaccurate" information, including Hurricane Katrina (2005) and Hurricane Ike (2008), which both had stronger than estimated storm surges, and Hurricane Charley (2004), which had weaker than estimated storm surge. Struck Yucatan Peninsula and Florida. The pressure doesnt do any damage, Kottlowski said. Total and long-lived electrical and water losses are to be expected, possibly for many weeks.[8]. INTENSITY OBSERVATION AND FORECAST ERRORS", "Hurricane scale invented to communicate storm danger", "The Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Scale: An Interview with Dr. Robert Simpson", "Hurricanes shaped life of scale inventor", "Wilma's Rage Suggests New Hurricane Categories Needed", "Experimental SaffirSimpson Hurricane Wind Scale", "Name That Hurricane: Famous Examples of the 5Hurricane Categories", "Famous Hurricanes of the 20th and 21stCentury in the United States", "Time to Replace the SaffirSimpson Hurricane Scale? [10] Additionally, they and others point out that the SaffirSimpson scale, unlike the moment magnitude scale used to measure earthquakes, is not continuous, and is quantized into a small number of categories. Its conceivable that [Patricia] could create a storm surge that high.. Over in the Atlantic, 1980's Hurricane Allen still holds the wind speed record, packing one-minute sustained winds of 190 MPH at one point during its life cycle. Only a few storms of this intensity have been recorded. Typhoon Nancy holds that record with maximum sustained winds of 215 mph on Sept. 12, 1961. Patricia made landfall north of Manzanillo, Mexico still at Category 5 intensity, becoming only the second Pacific hurricane to make landfall at this intensity. In fact, according to Slates Eric Holthaus, Patricia is now very close to the theoretical maximum strength for a tropical cyclone on planet Earth. El Nio is also triggering droughts in eastern Africa. [19], Some scientists, including Kerry Emanuel and Lakshmi Kantha, have criticized the scale as being simplistic, indicating that the scale takes into account neither the physical size of a storm nor the amount of precipitation it produces. (April 1996) holds the record for the highest wind speed ever recorded. Thats why there have been fewer storms, Kottlowski said. Although the scale shows wind speeds in continuous speed ranges, the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center assign tropical cyclone intensities in 5-knot (kn) increments (e.g., 100, 105, 110, 115 kn, etc.) The pressure drop of 97 millibars in 24 hours ending on Oct. 23 at 7 a.m. CDT was one of the most intense rapid intensification events by pressure on record, according to NOAA's Hurricane Research Division. Fastest intensification (1-minute sustained surface winds): Hurricane Patricia 55 m/s (120 mph, 105 kt, 195 km/h), from 40 . At landfall Friday evening, the pressure was estimated to have risen to 920 millibars. Nsikan Akpan. Meteorological history of Hurricane Patricia, Meteorological history of Hurricane Patricia Records, List of the most intense tropical cyclones, Timeline of the 2015 Pacific hurricane season, Tropical Depression Twenty-E Discussion Number 1, Tropical Storm Patricia Discussion Number 7, Hurricane Patricia Special Discussion Number 10, "At 200 MPH, Hurricane Patricia Is Now the Strongest Tropical Cyclone Ever Recorded", "Coverage of Hurricane Patricia Was Not Overblown, Likely Life-Saving", "Hurricane Patricia overblown? But El Nio has contributed to the storms intensity, said Accuweather meteorologist Dan Kottlowski. So as far as we know, Patricia has set a pressure record, topping Hurricane Wilma from 10 years ago. These storms tie Amy as the 10th-strongest storm (by winds): This trio of typhoons share the rank of the ninth-strongest storm (by winds): Besides being notable in strength, Rita had the odd characteristic of tracking virtually due west for its nearly two-week duration. Wind speeds in knots are then converted to other units and rounded to the nearest 5 mph or 5 km/h. In general, a lower pressure means a more intense hurricane. Every region of the ocean has a speed limit that a storms winds cant exceed due a number of factors related to the physics, and this storm happened to develop in an area of the tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean with a particularly high speed limit. (MORE: Before and After Images of Mexico). 1996 - 2023 NewsHour Productions LLC. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Stunning, historic, mind-boggling, and catastrophic: that sums up Hurricane Patricia, which intensified to an incredible-strength Category 5 storm with 200 mph winds overnight. In the future, tropical residents should expect more frequent hurricanes of this scale. Hurricane Laura made landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border on Thursday morning with wind speeds around 150 mph. Warmer Water Changing The Behavior of Pirates, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Franais, State of Vatican City (Holy See) | Italiano, According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). To be classified as a hurricane, a tropical cyclone must have one-minute-average maximum sustained winds at 10m above the surface of at least 74mph (64kn, 119km/h; Category1). But if Patricia was that fierce of a storm, could it also have been one of the most intense tropical cyclones the world has ever seen? Wind speeds in knots are then converted to other units and rounded to the nearest 5mph or 5km/h. Wilma (2005): Top wind speed 185 mph; lowest atmospheric pressure 882 millibars. Made landfall in Japan as a tropical storm, killing 2 people. The initial scale was developed by Herbert Saffir, a structural engineer, who in 1969 went on commission for the United Nations to study low-cost housing in hurricane-prone areas. All winds are one-minute sustained unless otherwise noted. [10][23] Fresh calls were made for consideration of the issue after Hurricane Irma in 2017,[24] which was the subject of a number of seemingly credible false news reports as a "Category6" storm,[25] partly in consequence of so many local politicians using the term. Partly, but not totally. The hurricane joins a small group of intense US storms: Only 13 other hurricanes in history have ever made landfall at or above 145 mph, according to Philip Klotzbach, a meteorologist at Colorado State University. Please check your inbox to confirm. A "sustained" wind refers to winds and wind gusts that are averaged together to arrive at an estimated constant speed. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale estimates potential property damage. Patricia reached a top wind speed of 201 mph on Oct. 23, 2015, as the storm took aim at Mexico's western coast. In early July, six cyclones struck the Pacific Ocean at once, marking the first time in a decade that this ocean has hosted five or more weather events with tropical storm strength. More than 10,000 homes were damaged or destroyed and about 100,000 acres of farmland suffered significant damage. [8], The storm's flooding causes major damage to the lower floors of all structures near the shoreline, and many coastal structures can be completely flattened or washed away by the storm surge. At 2:46 am EDT October 23, 2015 an Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft measured a central pressure of 880 mb in Patricia, making it the most intense hurricane ever observed in the Western Hemisphere. In a word, no. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures, while larger structures are struck by floating debris. While experts can explain after the fact how the storm got so powerful, they say storm predictions still need work. And it was headed straight for the west coast of Mexico. There will be much research going forward to determine just where Patrica falls on the all-time hurricane record scale. For instance, Hurricane Katrina, the most destructive hurricane in US history, had sustained wind speeds of 125 mph when it made landfall near the Louisiana-Mississippi border. Lower pressure gives a guesstimate of what the wind is going to be. It's possible that the wind estimates for the storm may have been inflated during aircraft reconnaissance flyovers. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell). Top wind speed is much greater than Hurricanes Katrina or Sandy. Thanks for reading Scientific American. [8] The new scale became operational on May 15, 2010. You have reached your limit of free articles. Hurricanes with faster wind speeds are usually more destructive than those with slower winds. All Rights Reserved. From the article: The history of this word which, at the present day, may be considered the common property of about all European languages, is buried in the first reports of Western travellers on their adventures in Chinese waters. Patricia the fastest-intensifying Western Hemisphere hurricane on record. Conceptual animation illustrates the wind damage associated with increasing hurricane intensity, based on The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This measuring system was formerly known as the SaffirSimpson hurricane scale, or SSHS. "The 10 Most Powerful Hurricanes, Cyclones, and Typhoons in History." The El Nio effect follows decades of increased water temperatures due to global warming. Explore our digital archive back to 1845, including articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize winners. (MORE: Stunning Meteorological Images of Patricia). Magazines, Digital Patricia does not beat the record-lowest pressure in the Western Pacific, though, which is held by Super Typhoon Tip of 1979: 870 mb. According to an article published in 1880 by the Royal Geographical Society of London, the word typhoon was first mentioned in print in 1560 by Portuguese explorer Ferno Mendes Pinto. (MORE: Most Harrowing Flights in Hurricane Hunter History). Its roots sprouted among Spaniard colonists, who borrowed it from Hunrakan, the Mayan storm god, and Hurakan, a Taino and Carib god, according to The Weather Channel. But why does it matter? Near-total to total power loss is likely for up to several weeks and water will likely also be lost or contaminated.[8]. What were seeing here is not just breaking some records by a little bit, but breaking them by a fair bit.. Territory. Threatening Mexico West Coast. 7 Types of Weather in a High Pressure System, Tropical Waves: Hurricane Seedlings From Africa, The Jet Stream: What It Is and How It Affects Our Weather, 1900 Galveston Hurricane: History, Damage, Impact, Air Pressure and How It Affects the Weather, B.S., Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, University of North Carolina. A view from the cockpit of a NOAA P-3 reconnaissance aircraft showing on-board radar of Hurricane Patricia near its maximum intensity. It moved parallel to . Copyright TWC Product and Technology LLC 2014, 2023. 7 Ways Jimmy Carter Has Improved America's Energy Future--Or Tried To. [11] Since being removed from the SaffirSimpson hurricane wind scale, storm surge predicting and modeling is now handled with the use of computer numerical models such as ADCIRC and SLOSH. Patricia's 200 mph sustained winds make it the 3rd strongest tropical cyclone in world history (by 1-minute averaged wind speed.) It was also known for being the first storm in recorded history to exhibit triple eyewalls, an extremely rare occurrence in which two additional eyewalls form outside the main eyewall (like a bullseye pattern). ", "Supertyphoon Tip: Shattering all records", "Category 6? You read that right. I asked Michael for some perspectivetoday on Patricia'srapid intensification in light of warmer ocean temperatures. Patricia is also the fastest tropical cyclone to intensify, or "bomb out," a record previously held by Idabut broken by Patricia's 100 millibar pressure decrease (from 980 mb to 880 mb) that took place over a two-day period from October 22 to 23. This article is about the Pacific hurricane of 2015. Patricia is the first hurricane where a reconnaissance aircraft has measured a wind speed of 200 miles per hour and pressure down to 880 millibars in the Eastern Pacific, Kottlowski said. Nsikan Akpan Buildings that lack a solid foundation, such as mobile homes, are usually destroyed, and gable-end roofs are peeled off. (2023, April 5). The 10 Most Powerful Hurricanes, Cyclones, and Typhoons in History. The fast-moving winds from the west and resulting wind shear are cutting tropical storms to ribbons. Stunning, Historic, Mind-Boggling, and Catastrophic: Hurricane Patricia Hits 200 mph. "Almost all of the damage and mortality caused by hurricanes is done by major hurricanes," James Kossin, an atmospheric scientist at NOAA and the lead author of the first study, told CNN. The classifications can provide some indication of the potential damage and flooding a hurricane will cause upon landfall. Forecast models simply couldnot grasp the rapid intensification of Patricia. Last year, Hurricane Patricia reached maximum sustained winds of 215 mph in the eastern Pacific Ocean. For now, it appears Patrica may havethe third highest wind speeds on earth. Here's a look at the 10 most intense storms ever recorded on the planetthat is, across the various hurricane basinsand how Patricia ranks among them. The report says that two small villages, Emiliano Zapata and Chamela, suffered the most extreme damage. ThoughtCo, Apr. [27], According to Robert Simpson, there are no reasons for a Category6 on the SaffirSimpson Scale because it is designed to measure the potential damage of a hurricane to human-made structures. Also clocking in at 180 mph, tying for the seventh-strongest storm (by winds): June had the second-lowest pressure of any tropical cyclone globally. In a Category 3 hurricane, winds range from 111 to 129 mph. If winds are moving at the same speed, then there is no wind shear. Here's a look at the 10 most intense storms ever recorded on the planetthat is, across the varioushurricanebasinsand how Patricia ranks among them. Charley (2004), Dennis (2005), Gustav (2008), Ike (2008), Joaquin (2015), Harvey (2017), Laura (2020), Eta (2020), Iota (2020), and Ida (2021). Made landfall in the Philippines at peak strength. A band of sea surface temperaturesat 30 degrees C (86 degrees F) off the west coast of Mexico fueled Patricia'srapid intensification. A study from 2013, meanwhile, found that for each degree the planet warmed over the previous 40 years, the proportion of category 4 and 5 storms increased by 25% to 30%. and Patricia), and only three had wind speeds at 180 mph (80 m/s; 160 kn; 290 km/h) or greater (Linda . The remnants of Patricia will add several more inches to already waterlogged Texas. The NHC report estimated Patricia's suface pressure bottomed out at 872 millibars on Oct. 23, the lowest on record in the Western Hemisphere, and the second lowest on record for the world just behind the 870 millibars observed in Supertyphoon Tip in 1979. Patricia's remnants won't be the sole contributor to the heavy rains this weekend. Two storms, one in the Western Pacific and one in the Atlantic, are tied with Tip for the fifth-strongest storm (by winds): Joan was the 1959 typhoon season's strongest storm in terms of intensity and size (it was more than 1,000 miles across). Hurricane Patricia currently has a sustained maximum wind speed of 190 mph, and is barreling toward Mexico's Pacific Coast. There is some criticism of the SSHWS for not accounting for rain, storm surge, and other important factors, but SSHWS defenders say that part of the goal of SSHWS is to be straightforward and simple to understand. Continue reading with a Scientific American subscription. This scale does not take into account other potentially deadly hazards such as storm surge, rainfall flooding, and tornadoes. Officially, here are the strongest tropical cyclones in world history, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center and the National Hurricane Center (using 1-minute averaged sustained winds): Super Typhoon Nancy (1961), 215 mph winds, 882 mb. Patricia is estimated to have intensified 85 knots (100 mph) in 24 hours, from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane. Theoretically, if we extended the Saffir-Simpson Scale to Category 6 . This means that a small part of Jalisco's coast is seeing the most extreme winds at landfall. "Increasing the likelihood of having a major hurricane will certainly increase this risk.". Other examples of storms that peaked at Category4 intensity and made landfall at that intensity include: Betsy (1965), Celia (1970), Carmen (1974), Frederic (1979), Joan (1988), Iniki (1992), Luis (1995), Iris (2001), In contrast, the lowest pressure reading (the real measure of intensity) for Katrina, when it peaked in the Gulf of Mexico before drowning New Orleans, was 902 millibars. Here is more perspective on Patricia'sincredible rapid intensification burst and record-setting strength from Bob Henson at Weather Underground. The Atlantic's record holder for largest wind increase in 24 hours is held by Hurricane Wilma of 2005, which intensified from a 60-knot tropical storm to a 150-knot Category 5 hurricane--an increase of 90 knots (105 mph). Would this be the highest wind speed ever recorded? In 2012, the NHC expanded the windspeed range for Category4 by 1mph in both directions, to 130156mph, with corresponding changes in the other units (113136kn, 209251km/h), instead of 131155mph (114135kn, 210249km/h). In the Northwest Pacific, people use the word typhoon, though when the storms reach Category 4 or above 150 miles per hour, theyre called super typhoons.. QUESTION 10 In 2015, Hurricane Patricia set the record for highest wind speed, reaching maximum sustained winds of 215 mph. Catastrophic damage is expected. It impacted Guam, the Philippines (as a Category 4 equivalent), and Vietnam, causing $100 million in damageand more than 300 deaths. Cyclone is also used for the rare occasions when a tropical storms hits the Mediterranean Sea, which has only happened five times since 1947. Hitting southeastern Japan as a Category 3, Ida caused extensive flooding and mudslides and led to over 1,200 fatalities. The hurricane made landfall near Cuixmala, Mexico, or 55 miles west-northwest of Manzanillo, at 6:15 p.m. CDT Friday with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph. [citation needed], After the series of powerful storm systems of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, as well as after Hurricane Patricia, a few newspaper columnists and scientists brought up the suggestion of introducing Category6, and they have suggested pegging Category6 to storms with winds greater than 174 or 180mph (78 or 80m/s; 151 or 156kn; 280 or 290km/h). On April 10, a measured wind speed of 253 mph (408 km/h) was . In this case, the strongest winds only extend 15 miles or so around the eye of the storm, making it difficult for devices in the ocean to pick up on the strength. The earliest print making mention of a typhoon seems to be Pintos Journey, first published in 1560. It just gives a measure of how intense the storm is. El Nio has also reinforced Patricia and other storms in the Pacific Basin by lowering wind shear. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/most-powerful-hurricanes-and-typhoons-in-world-history-3443613. Eight people . Since it never came close to making landfall, there were no damages or fatalities reported. Hurricane is used for storms in the western Atlantic, Caribbean and eastern Pacific. The Okeechobee Hurricane, also known as the San Felipe Segundo Hurricane, had the highest wind speed at landfall of any hurricane to impact an inhabited U.S. territory. Hurricane Patricia in the northeast Pacific Ocean: Most intense (10-minute maximum sustained winds) . In addition, Patricia may be in the running for the largest pressure drop ever observed in a tropical cyclone. A. Eight people died. [8], Historical examples of storms that made landfall at Category5 status include: "Cuba" (1924), "Okeechobee" (1928), "Bahamas" (1932), "CubaBrownsville" (1933), "Labor Day" (1935), Janet (1955), Inez (1966), Camille (1969), Edith (1971), Anita (1977), David (1979), Gilbert (1988), Andrew (1992), Dean (2007), Felix (2007), Irma (2017),[16] Maria (2017),[17] Michael (2018),[18], and Dorian (2019) No Category5 hurricane is known to have made landfall at that strength in the eastern Pacific basin. But how far above 157 mph could the winds go while still being considered Category 5 wind speeds? Photo by Scott Kelly/NASA. Hurricane Patricia should make landfall in Mexico Friday evening. "Now, imagine there are hurricane-driven waves on top of that extra-high tide. Poorly attached roof shingles or tiles can blow off. It appears that 200 mph hurricane winds are one of those thresholds that we just passed Pennsylvania State University, Department of Meteorology. All Rights Reserved. The scale was developed in 1971 by civil engineer Herbert Saffir and meteorologist Robert Simpson, who at the time was director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC). 2023 TIME USA, LLC. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/most-powerful-hurricanes-and-typhoons-in-world-history-3443613. Again, Weather Underground, one of the most reliablesources on all things hurricanes. This was 15 mph higher than the 200-mph winds stated in advisories issued by the NHC when the hurricane was ongoing, which already made it the strongest hurricane on record in either the eastern Pacific or Atlantic Ocean basins. Ironically, El Nio and wind shear have combined to create a weaker than usual hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, according to Kottlowski. In other areas, such a strong storm would have been impossible. Only a few types of structures are capable of surviving intact, and only if located at least 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8km) inland. The lower the pressure, potentially the stronger the winds. The scale of devastation caused by the storm will depend on which community it hits on the western seaboard of Mexico, but experts say that communities should expect 10 to 15 foot storm surges, flooding and mudslides. To resolve these issues, the NHC had been obliged to incorrectly report storms with wind speeds of 115kn as 135mph, and 135kn as 245km/h. The World Meteorological Organization says the fastest wind speed ever recorded was 408km/h (254mph) - that was during . Made landfall as a Cat 2 in Japan, killing 191 people. A report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggests that the top 200 meters of the worlds oceans warmed by about 4% between 1971 and 2010. 200 mph sustained winds - highestwinds ever observed in western hemisphere and 3rd highest on earth, Highest reliably measured winds ever observed on earth according to Weather Underground. Our latest extreme weather story makes international news in the coming days. Patricia is right at that speed limit.. Hey Paul, thanks for contacting me about this. But that's far from the only factor that determines how dangerous a storm is. Hurricane Patricia, 2015: Wind speeds reached 345 kilometers per hour over the eastern Pacific, but decreased dramatically after making landfall in western Mexico.