Jamaica’s western coast was struck by Category‑5 Hurricane Melissa, with wind gusts up to 400 km/h, and its Premier warned the island was in a catastrophe zone, while scientists point to record‑breaking rapid intensification.
Premier’s Catastrophe Zone
Prime Minister Andrew Holness called Jamaica a “catastrophe zone” as Hurricane Melissa crossed the island. Although the storm’s centre has moved north of the island, residents remain at risk from flash floods and landslides caused by heavy rains.
Impact on Western Jamaica and Kingston
The strongest part of the hurricane struck western Jamaica on Tuesday, hitting the most densely populated areas, including the capital Kingston. Western Jamaica is the country’s major grain reserve, so farmers are expected to suffer crop losses.
Immediate Damage Observed
In towns across the affected region, first reports described widespread damage: burning roofs, streets and houses flooded, broken trees and power lines. Several areas still have no electricity, and restoring power to some localities may take time. The full scope of damage and losses is not yet known.
Storm of the Century
Melissa struck as a Category‑5 hurricane—winds starting at about 250 km/h and reaching nearly 300 km/h, with gusts up to 400 km/h measured by storm‑tracking aircraft shortly before impact. Meteorologists have called it the “storm of the century” for Jamaica and the strongest hurricane ever to make a direct strike on the island.
The storm’s intensity shocked experts because it intensified rapidly: within less than a day, wind speed doubled from roughly 110 to 220 km/h. Scientists attribute this rapid strengthening to the unusually warm ocean temperatures driven by global warming.
Rapid Intensification and Climate Link
“We saw exactly such a combination of conditions that could allow the hurricane to reach enormous power. A warm ocean allowed the storm to intensify rapidly, but the hurricane also moves slowly, meaning it can drop more rain while over land,” explained Leanne Archer of the University of Bristol.
Climate Change Amplifies Hurricanes
2024 was the hottest year on record for both the atmosphere and the oceans, with climate change driven primarily by combustion of coal, oil and gas. “Most factors that intensify hurricanes are amplified by extra heat in the oceans and atmosphere,” said Archer, noting that warmer seas provide more energy and higher humidity permits more intense rainfall.
Andrew Dessler added that as long as global warming is not stopped, tropical storm risks will rise, compounding other climate hazards such as heatwaves. This makes recovery after each disaster harder for communities like those in Jamaica, underscoring the need for rapid transition away from fossil fuels and stronger adaptation measures.