Hurricane Melissa was one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the Caribbean.
The atmospheric and ocean conditions that led to the rapid intensification of the hurricane were made six times more likely by climate change, a World Weather Attribution study has found. The storm grew from a tropical storm to a major Category 4 hurricane in just a day, fueled by warmer than average sea temperatures. It ultimately made landfall in Jamaica as a powerful Category 5 hurricane and affected eastern Cuba later on.
Forecasters noted that the Caribbean Sea was approximately 1.5°C warmer than average days prior to Melissa making landfall. The heat provided ample warm water for the hurricane's development, contributing to increased wind speeds and rainfall. The study concluded that climate change amplified extreme rainfall associated with Melissa by 16% and elevated the maximum wind speeds by 7%.
Despite Jamaica's preparedness, significant damage occurred, especially in Cuba, which faced severe impact despite evacuating over 700,000 residents. Experts underscore that events like Hurricane Melissa reveal the growing danger of climate change and the pressing need for international cooperation at events like COP30 to finance climate action and transition from fossil fuels.
