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Subject: E2) Which tropical cyclone intensified the fastest?

Contributed by Chris Landsea (NHC)

Hurricane Wilma in 2005 went from 954 mb to 901 mb in a 5 hour 23 minute period for a 9.8 mb/hr pressure drop. The winds went from 70 to 82 m/s (130 kt to 160 kt, 150 mph to 184 mph) in that period. Hurricane Beulah in 1967 underwent a 6.33 mb/hr drop over a six hour period.

In the West Pacific, Typhoon Forrest in September 1983 deepened by 100 mb (976 to 876 mb) in just under 24 hr (Roger Edson, personal communication) . Estimated surface sustained winds increased a maximum of 15 m/s (30 kt, 35 mph) in 6 hr and 44 m/s (85 kt, 98 mph) in one day (from 33 to 77 m/s [65 to 150 kt, 75 to 173 mph]).

Revised November 28, 2006

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