Hurricane Melissa's Destructive Impact Linked to Climate Change

Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025, was significantly intensified by climate change, according to multiple scientific analyses. The World Weather Attribution group reported that Melissa's maximum wind speeds were 7 percent stronger than they would have been in a world without global warming, with rainfall rates inside the storm's eyewall being 16 percent more intense. This powerful storm struck Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane with winds reaching 185 miles per hour, leading to widespread devastation, including collapsed buildings and disrupted communications. Following its path through Jamaica, Melissa continued to Cuba as a Category 3 storm, causing catastrophic flooding and forcing hundreds to evacuate, particularly impacting Haiti where dozens of deaths were reported.

Experts have noted that even a small increase in wind speed can lead to exponentially greater damage. Dr. Friederike Otto of Imperial College London estimated that the enhanced wind speeds contributed to over a billion dollars in additional damages, a significant figure for economically vulnerable countries like Jamaica. According to the Miami Herald, while hurricanes of this magnitude have occurred historically, the climate crisis has made storms like Melissa more intense and more likely to occur.

Various studies, including those from the London School of Economics and Climate Central, support the conclusion that climate change has made conditions in the Atlantic more favorable for stronger storms. The Caribbean Sea's ocean temperatures were reported to be 1.4 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels, effectively increasing the potential for hurricane formation and intensity. The Bangor Daily News noted that the atmospheric conditions that fueled Melissa were six times more likely due to climate change, underscoring the direct correlation between global warming and hurricane severity.

The rapid intensification of Melissa, which saw wind speeds double from 70 to 140 mph in just 18 hours, is a critical concern for future storm patterns. Studies have shown that hurricanes are now twice as likely to rapidly intensify compared to previous decades. In fact, the destruction from Melissa, estimated at around 50 billion dollars, reflects not only the immediate impacts of the storm but also the broader implications of climate change on weather patterns and disaster preparedness.

Furthermore, the slow movement of the storm, as it crawled at a pace of 1 to 3 mph, allowed it to draw significant energy from warm ocean waters, leading to prolonged periods of extreme weather. The Grist reported that such slow-moving storms can exacerbate flooding and damage, as was seen in Jamaica and Haiti. The overall consensus among scientists is that as climate change continues to impact global weather patterns, events like Hurricane Melissa will likely become more common and more devastating, necessitating urgent action on climate policies to mitigate further risks.