In Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of destruction, and now there are fears that it will cross the Caribbean this week. Winds exceed 295 km/h, making it the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the country’s history and one of the most intense of the 2025 Atlantic season. After hitting Cuba and heading towards the Bahamas, Hurricane Melissa is now beginning to weaken, but it has left thousands homeless, reigniting debates about the impact of climate change on tropical oceans.
The devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica
After Hurricane Melissa made landfall, Jamaica was described as an “apocalyptic scene” by local authorities. The island was hit by the hurricane as a Category 5 storm, with trees uprooted, roofs torn off, and 77% of the electricity supply disrupted. One of the most affected regions was St. Elizabeth Parish, which was completely submerged, its roads transformed into rivers.
In a statement, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the country is facing the worst natural disaster in its recent history. “Much of the basic infrastructure has been destroyed. We are mobilizing all possible support,” he stated. Some images circulated on social media showing cities like Santa Cruz completely flooded, with residents being rescued by makeshift boats.
Hurricane Melissa has weakened to a Category 3 storm, but even so, it maintained winds of 190 km/h as it entered Cuba, causing further flooding and forcing the evacuation of entire communities. Some experts have warned about the full extent of the damage, which will take several weeks to assess, especially in rural and mountainous areas.
A phenomenon driven by warmer seas
Meteorologists and climate scientists believe that Hurricane Melissa intensified unusually, and that the main reason for this may be the warming of the oceans. According to climatologist Akshay Deoras of the University of Reading, the waters of the Atlantic Ocean reached about 30°C, which is up to 3°C above normal. This excessive heat acts as fuel, causing the hurricane’s winds to double in intensity in less than 24 hours.
Recent studies show that hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean are now twice as likely to escalate from Category 1 to Category 4 or 5 in a single day, especially compared to the 1970s and 1980s. The consequence of this phenomenon is a reduction in the reaction time of authorities, making it even more difficult to protect coastal populations, especially on the smaller Caribbean islands.
How to deal with the ongoing threat? The urgency of adaptation arises.
Hurricane Melissa has weakened and been downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane shortly after crossing Jamaica and Cuba. Even so, the hurricane continues to cause storms and flooding in the Bahamas region. The US National Hurricane Center issued a warning, stating that rainfall could exceed one meter in some areas, increasing the risk of landslides and severe flooding.
According to Bernadette Woods Placky, chief meteorologist at Climate Central, this situation reinforces the need for investments in coastal defense and early warning systems.
A warning that goes beyond the Caribbean
Events like Hurricane Melissa are becoming a dangerous symbol of the new climate era the planet is currently facing. The biggest problem is that small islands and tropical countries, which contribute little to global carbon emissions, are among the most affected by extreme phenomena.
Rescue teams continue to work in Jamaica and Cuba, and meanwhile, the world watches the worrying scenario with apprehension. Nature is responding intensely to the changes caused in the climate, and the destruction of these regions creates an alert. On an increasingly warmer planet, there is a risk that hurricanes like this will cease to be exceptions and become the norm.