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What happened
Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest hurricanes recorded in the Caribbean, made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm with winds reaching 185 mph. A World Weather Attribution study found that climate change made the atmospheric and ocean conditions that led to Melissa's rapid intensification six times more likely. The hurricane intensified from a tropical storm to a major hurricane in just one day, fueled by unusually warm sea temperatures. The study also indicated that climate change increased the maximum wind speeds by 7% and rainfall by 16%. While Jamaica managed to prepare for the storm, Cuba faced severe damage to infrastructure and agriculture. This event underscores the urgent need for climate finance and action, particularly for developing nations, as highlighted by experts ahead of the upcoming COP30 climate conference.
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Key insights
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Rapid Intensification
Melissa intensified from a tropical storm to Category 5 in one day.
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2
Climate Change Impact
Climate change increased the likelihood of such storms sixfold.
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3
Severe Damage
Cuba experienced significant infrastructure damage despite evacuation efforts.
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Urgent Climate Action
Experts stress the need for immediate climate finance and action.
Takeaways
Hurricane Melissa exemplifies the escalating threat posed by climate change, necessitating urgent global action to mitigate its impacts, especially on vulnerable nations.