STORM2K

I've had this question in hand since Alex dissipated earlier in the season, but when I looked around, I couldn't find any reliable source that jumped me and said something about Alex's 946 mbar intensity.

Well anyways, I am wondering whether this year's Hurricane Alex is the strongest Category 2 hurricane on record in terms of minimal pressure (946 mbar). Every single storm I looked up that was a Category 2 so far was weaker than Alex.

Thanks to tolakram for this image of Alex:


This list of Category 2 hurricanes from the EPAC and the ATL from the 2000-2010 period shows that Alex easily beats them all from 14-40 mbar. (Remember, I'm only discussing about millibars in this topic). The list is from strongest (top) to weakest (bottom).

Hurricane Alex (2010): 946 mbar
Hurricane Gustav (2002): 960 mbar
Hurricane Dolly (2008): 963 mbar
Hurricane Danielle (2004): 964 mbar
Hurricane Sergio (2006): 965 mbar
Hurricane Michael (2000): 965 mbar
Hurricane Hector (2006): 966 mbar
Hurricane Lane (2000): 967 mbar
Hurricane Juan (2003): 969 mbar
Hurricane Nora (2003): 969 mbar
Hurricane Elida (2008): 970 mbar
Hurricane Paul (2006): 970 mbar
Hurricane Otis (2005): 970 mbar
Hurricane Hilary (2005): 970 mbar
Hurricane Irene (2005): 970 mbar
Hurricane Marty (2003): 970 mbar
Hurricane Jimena (2003): 970 mbar
Hurricane Ignacio (2003): 970 mbar
Hurricane Douglas (2002): 970 mbar
Hurricane Humberto (2001): 970 mbar
Hurricane Aletta (2000): 970 mbar
Hurricane Carlos (2009): 971 mbar
Hurricane Flossie (2001): 972 mbar
Hurricane Ida (2009): 975 mbar
Hurricane Gil (2001): 975 mbar
Hurricane Richard (2010): 978 mbar
Hurricane Paula (2010): 981 mbar
Hurricane Tomas (2010): 982 mbar

I just want to add that I think Alex is the strongest category 2 AT PEAK INTENSITY. I understand that some other storms were stronger at category 2 (Ike 2008: 944 mbar) but they weren't at peak intensity.