The Impact of Hurricane Melissa

Hurricanes are among the most dangerous natural phenomena affecting the environment and human communities. In this article, we will explore the details of Hurricane Melissa, which struck the Caribbean and significantly impacted infrastructure and daily life for residents.

What is Hurricane Melissa?

Hurricane Melissa is one of the powerful hurricanes tracked by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellites on October 28, 2025. The hurricane was captured by the GOES-19 satellite, allowing scientists to observe the “mesovortices” swirling around the storm’s eye.

These vortices are small-scale rotational features that form around the eye of the storm, occurring due to intense differences in wind speed and direction.

Effects of the Hurricane on the Caribbean

Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, the strongest category, with wind speeds reaching 185 miles per hour (295 kilometers per hour). This led to power outages affecting 72% of the island and disrupted 65% of mobile phone sites.

In Haiti, the hurricane resulted in the deaths of 25 people and 18 missing due to flooding. Although Cuba reported no fatalities after being hit by the hurricane as a Category 3 storm, many communities there still suffer from power, internet, and phone service outages due to infrastructure damage.

Factors Contributing to Increasing Hurricane Strength

Reports indicate that human-induced climate changes have contributed to the increasing strength of hurricanes in the Atlantic. The severe differences in temperature and humidity due to global warming play a role in the formation of these violent weather phenomena.

Additionally, rising ocean temperatures increase the energy available to hurricanes, making them more powerful and destructive.

The Role of Technology in Monitoring Hurricanes

Satellite technology like GOES-19 helps scientists monitor hurricanes and provide early warnings to at-risk communities. This technology enables authorities to take preventive measures to reduce damage and human losses.

The data provided by these satellites also assists researchers in studying the impact of climate change on hurricanes and improving future prediction models.

Conclusion

Hurricane Melissa highlights the importance of preparedness and planning for natural disasters. Technology plays a vital role in providing the necessary data to improve response and mitigate negative impacts. It is also crucial to work on reducing the adverse effects of climate change to limit the increasing strength of these weather phenomena in the future.