Hurricane Melissa Approaches Jamaica

As Hurricane Melissa nears Jamaica, it has become the third Category 5 hurricane of the Atlantic season in 2025. This milestone makes the 2025 season the second to witness more than two Category 5 hurricanes since records began.

History and Records

The 2005 season was the only one to previously record four Category 5 hurricanes: Emily, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. These hurricanes were noted for their high destructive power and attracted the attention of scientists and observers worldwide.

Hurricanes are classified using the Saffir-Simpson scale based on wind speed. A storm is categorized as a Category 1 hurricane when wind speeds reach 74 miles per hour, and as a Category 5 when they reach 157 miles per hour.

Meteorological Factors and Climate Changes

Category 5 hurricanes are very rare. Hurricane Melissa is the forty-fifth of this category in the Atlantic since records began in 1851. Such hurricanes require immense energy and favorable weather conditions to achieve such high wind speeds.

Hurricane Melissa benefited from rising water temperatures in the Caribbean Sea, experiencing a rapid increase in strength from a tropical storm with winds of 70 miles per hour to a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 miles per hour in a very short time.

Climate Change and Its Impact on Hurricanes

With rising ocean temperatures, more storms are expected to rapidly intensify and become stronger. In the context of climate change, hurricanes have generally become more powerful. A study found that climate change increased wind speeds for each hurricane in 2024.

This trend indicates that more storms will reach higher categories than before. A study in 2020 showed that the proportion of tropical cyclones reaching Category 3 or higher has already increased in recent decades.

Recent Statistics and Future Projections

In the past three years, there have been seven Category 5 hurricanes, and 13 in the last decade. These numbers suggest that powerful hurricanes are becoming more common, posing new challenges for communities facing these phenomena.

Conclusion

Hurricane Melissa is a strong example of the impact of climate change on the strength and frequency of hurricanes. As ocean temperatures continue to rise, more severe hurricanes are expected. These phenomena require new strategies to manage and reduce the potential damage they can cause.