Jamaica is reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, a Category 4 storm that made landfall Tuesday, October 29, 2025, causing widespread damage to critical infrastructure and leaving the full extent of the impact unknown as rescue efforts begin. The hurricane’s rapid intensification in the days leading up to landfall has raised concerns about the role of climate change in fueling increasingly powerful storms.
The storm surge and torrential rainfall overwhelmed Jamaica’s electricity grid, hospitals, and schools. While initial reports indicate important damage, reaching the most affected communities remains a challenge, delaying a complete assessment of casualties and destruction. Hurricane Melissa underwent two periods of rapid intensification,fueled by ocean waters 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than usual for this time of year, according to research from Climate Central.
Melissa was a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 112 km/h on Saturday morning. Within 24 hours,those winds doubled to 225 km/h,classifying it as a Category 4 hurricane. The intensification continued thru Sunday and Monday, peaking at 281 km/h as the storm approached Jamaica.
further data on the hurricane and its connection to global climate patterns can be found here: https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2025/10/29/clima-y-tiempo/melissa-calentamiento-global-huracan-trax
