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Jamaica is reeling from the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that struck the island on Tuesday with wind speeds reaching up to 295 km/h. The hurricane unleashed torrential floods, powerful gusts that ripped roofs off buildings, and triggered landslides, claiming at least three lives and leaving tens of thousands without power. Prime Minister Andrew Holness emphasized the unprecedented strength of the storm, stating that no infrastructure could withstand such force and that recovery efforts would be monumental. The southwestern region, particularly St. Elizabeth, bore the brunt of the destruction, with widespread flooding and severe damage reported. Many families were trapped in their homes as emergency services struggled to navigate the perilous conditions. Approximately 15,000 people sought refuge in shelters, while 77% of households were left without electricity. Four major hospitals sustained damage, with one losing power entirely, necessitating the evacuation of 75 patients. Hurricane Melissa set multiple records, with a barometric pressure of 892 millibars and wind speeds of 298 km/h, rivaling historic storms like the 1935 Labor Day hurricane and Hurricane Dorian in 2019. The storm also generated life-threatening storm surges of up to 4 meters. As Melissa moved toward Cuba on Tuesday evening, Cuban authorities braced for heavy rainfall of up to 51 centimeters and significant coastal flooding. President Miguel Díaz-Canel urged citizens not to underestimate the storm’s power, and thousands were evacuated from eastern provinces. The U.S. Defense Department released footage from Hurricane Hunter flights, which provided critical data to the National Hurricane Center. The storm claimed seven lives across the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica. Jamaican officials warned of ongoing dangers, such as the potential displacement of crocodiles due to flooding, and prepared boats and helicopters for rescue operations post-storm. International aid organizations are poised to deliver food, medicine, and other emergency supplies. Jamaica’s airports are expected to reopen by Thursday, contingent on damage assessments.

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday with unprecedented wind speeds of 298 km/h, matching historical records. This extraordinary hurricane defied typical meteorological patterns, intensifying even as it approached land, a phenomenon that left scientists both baffled and concerned. Melissa’s rapid intensification—gaining 113 km/h in wind speed within 24 hours—was fueled by unusually warm Atlantic waters, a direct consequence of climate change, according to experts.

Phil Klotzbach, a hurricane researcher at Colorado State University, described Melissa as ‘a remarkable storm, just a beast.’ The hurricane’s wind speeds and air pressure matched records set by the deadly 1935 Labor Day storm in Florida and Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Unlike typical hurricanes, Melissa did not weaken during an eyewall replacement cycle, a process that usually tempers storm intensity. Instead, it maintained its strength, even lingering near Jamaica’s mountainous terrain, which typically disrupts storms.

Bernadette Woods Placky, chief meteorologist at Climate Central, emphasized the role of warm ocean waters in Melissa’s intensity. ‘The storm seemed to effortlessly ventilate itself,’ she noted, highlighting the unusually deep and warm waters that provided continuous fuel for the hurricane. Melissa’s rapid intensification occurred in five six-hour periods, a rare and alarming pattern.

Climate Central’s analysis suggests that the warming of ocean waters, driven by human-induced climate change, made the conditions for Melissa’s formation 500 to 700 times more likely. This aligns with a broader trend: since 2016, there have been 13 Category 5 hurricanes in the Atlantic, a significant increase compared to previous decades. While hurricane records from the pre-satellite era are less reliable, the data underscores a clear link between climate change and the intensification of storms.

As the world continues to warm, experts predict more powerful hurricanes, even if the total number of storms does not increase. ‘When these storms move over extremely warm water, it’s extra fuel for rapid intensification and record-breaking events,’ Woods Placky concluded.