Posted: 2:00pm EDT Saturday July 16
Emily now has the strongest winds of any hurricane so early in the season, beating out last week's Hurricane Dennis for the top spot. Emily's central pressure measured 937 mb in the 1:17pm EDT Hurricane Hunter eye penetration, and its maximum sustained winds reached 155 mph. Emily still has to get below Dennis' 930 mb pressure to qualify as the strongest hurricane ever so early in the year. The eye diameter shrank 2nm, to 11nm, and still has room to contract before an eyewall replacement cycle stops the current intensification trend. It is truly phenomenal to see such a powerful hurricane so early in the season.
Dr. Jeff Masters
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/show.html