After Ravaging Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa Isn’t Done Yet. Here’s What’s Next
Original story by: Gizmodo.com
Last updated: Oct 29, 2025
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- Context: Hurricane Melissa, the strongest landfalling Atlantic hurricane on record, has made landfall in Cuba and is heading towards the Bahamas. The storm rapidly intensified due to unusually warm ocean waters and low wind shear, causing significant damage in Jamaica.
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- Detailed Summary:
- Hurricane Melissa made landfall in eastern Cuba as a Category 3 storm early Wednesday morning.
- The storm had previously caused extensive damage in Jamaica, with a significant portion of the island experiencing power outages and flooding. The Jamaican Prime Minister declared the country a disaster area.
- Melissa is expected to make landfall in the Bahamas by Wednesday afternoon as a strong hurricane, bringing powerful winds, life-threatening storm surge, and heavy rain. Turks and Caicos will experience tropical storm conditions.
- The hurricane has weakened slightly after passing over Cuba but is expected to reintensify over water.
- Forecasters do not anticipate Melissa making landfall in the U.S.
- The rapid intensification of Hurricane Melissa is attributed to exceptionally warm ocean waters and low wind shear in the Caribbean Sea.
- At its peak, Melissa was a Category 5 hurricane with wind speeds of 185 mph, making it the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in the Atlantic, tied with the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. It is also the strongest hurricane recorded this late in the season.
- Scientists suggest that climate change, specifically rising ocean temperatures, contributes to the formation and intensification of more dangerous hurricanes like Melissa. Current Caribbean ocean temperatures are approximately 1.5°C warmer than normal.
- Experts warn that as global temperatures continue to rise, hurricanes are likely to break records more frequently, increasing risks in warm-water regions like the Caribbean.
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