200 mph is NOT the “strongest hurricane ever recorded” here in North America. What shoddy “journalism.”
How so? It's the strongest hurricane ever measured. Storms such as 1935 Labor Day Storm and Camille had estimated winds near 190-200....but nothing measured by recon.
Here's why it probably is the strongest we've seen in our lifetimes: The pressure is the lowest recorded in the NHC AOR...at 880 (and it probably went into the 870's given it deepened 6 mb between the last 2 passes of recon)...and the pressure gradient is EXTREME. Hurricane force winds only extend out 25 miles...and recon recorded a pressure drop of about 75 mb over 30 miles.
Hurricane Camille that hit Louisiana is thought to have had winds in excess of 200mph. The measuring devices that would measure up to 200mph were destroyed by its winds.
It is being called that by multiple media outlets. I have found no record of a stronger (wind speed) storm on record. Do you have another source?