What's happened
Hurricane Melissa intensified into a Category 5 storm, reaching wind speeds over 252 km/h (157 mph). It rapidly strengthened despite environmental challenges, tying landfall records and prompting evacuations in Cuba and Jamaica. The storm is forecast to pass over Cuba and the Greater Antilles, with severe flooding expected.
What's behind the headline?
Melissa's extraordinary rapid intensification defies typical hurricane patterns, highlighting the influence of climate change on storm behavior. The storm's ability to maintain strength over mountainous islands and over warm waters suggests a shift in hurricane dynamics, with more storms reaching extreme intensities. Its slow movement will likely cause prolonged damage, especially through catastrophic rainfall and flooding. This event underscores the urgent need for enhanced preparedness and climate resilience in vulnerable regions. The storm's record-tying strength at landfall signals a new normal where hurricanes will increasingly reach catastrophic levels, demanding global attention and action.
What the papers say
AP News reports detail Melissa's unprecedented rapid intensification, noting it turbocharged by about 70 mph in 24 hours and reaching 185 mph. The article highlights the storm's resilience over mountainous Jamaica and its record-tying landfall strength. Al Jazeera emphasizes the storm's evolution from West Africa, its forecasted path over Cuba and the Caribbean, and the evacuations of over 600,000 people. Both sources underline the storm's exceptional intensity and potential for catastrophic impact, with AP focusing on scientific marvels and Al Jazeera on regional preparedness and warnings.
How we got here
Melissa originated off West Africa as a thunderstorm cluster, evolving into a tropical storm by October 21. It intensified through the Caribbean, reaching Category 4, and then rapidly escalated to Category 5, driven by warm waters and slow movement. Its unusual strength and persistence challenge typical hurricane behavior.
Go deeper
- What measures are being taken to protect vulnerable Caribbean regions?
- How does Melissa's strength compare to historical hurricanes?
- What are the long-term implications of such storms increasing in frequency?
More on these topics