Last month, the storm tore a path through the Caribbean destroying property and claiming 90 lives. Now, data has been verified that it had record-breaking winds.
As measured by a dropsonde released from hurricane hunter aircraft, a maximum wind gust of 252 mph was recorded. This sets a record for the strongest verified hurricane wind speed, topping the old record of 248 mph recorded during Typhoon Megi in 2010.
From NSF NCAR:
Dropsondes are small cylindrical devices that are used by organizations like NOAA to collect valuable information during extreme weather events like hurricanes or atmospheric rivers. As they fall to the surface under a small parachute, dropsonde sensors gather information that helps shape forecasts and inform communities of approaching hazards. Fifty years ago, scientists at NSF NCAR created the modern dropsonde. Over the decades, new generations of NSF NCAR researchers have continued to update dropsonde technology, and the latest version – the NRD41 which is manufactured by Vaisala – is the only operational dropsonde in the world.