Hurricane Wilma holds the Atlantic record for the fastest 24-hour intensification by central-pressure drop.
In October 2005, Wilma strengthened explosively over the northwestern Caribbean Sea. Its central pressure fell 97 millibars in 24 hours, dropping from 979 to 882 millibars. That exceptionally low pressure accompanied a rapid increase in maximum sustained winds to about 185 mph, making Wilma a Category 5 hurricane.
Wilma’s intensification was fueled by very warm water, low wind shear, and a highly favorable atmospheric environment. The storm’s pressure continued falling dramatically over a shorter six-hour period as well, setting another Atlantic record for pressure drop.
A common mix-up is confusing fastest intensification with the lowest pressure ever recorded or the strongest winds. Those are different records. Wilma’s distinction specifically concerns the largest central-pressure decline in a 24-hour period in the Atlantic basin.