Meteorologists use central pressure as a proxy for measuring the strength of both "extratropical cyclones" (those with cold/warm/occluded fronts) and "tropical cyclones" (hurricanes, tropical storms, tropical depressions).
The lowest surface pressure as measured by reconnaissance aircraft in Superstorm Sandy's lifecycle was 940 millibars. The North Atlantic storm we reference below will likely bottom out with a lower central pressure! Fortunately, its worst impacts will stay offshore of Iceland, Ireland and Scotland.
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