Climate Change Supercharges Hurricane Melissa, Wreaking Havoc in Caribbean

On November 1st, 2025, the Caribbean region was reeling from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Melissa, a powerful storm that had torn through the area just days earlier. Melissa had undergone a rapid and extreme intensification, strengthening by 112 km/h over a 24-hour period, making it a prime example of the growing threat posed by climate change.

According to climate scientists, the warming of the world's oceans due to human-caused climate change has been a major factor in the increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes like Melissa. Their analyses found that hurricanes similar to Melissa are now around 10% wetter and 10% windier than they would have been in the past, thanks to the extra heat and moisture available.

In the case of Melissa, the Caribbean Sea was anywhere from 1.4°C to 2°C warmer than average, providing the perfect fuel for the hurricane's rapid strengthening. Experts warn that this type of extreme weather event is becoming more common, with Melissa's intensity being four times more likely to occur compared to pre-industrial times.

While adaptation and resilience efforts can help mitigate some of the damage, climate scientists caution that there are limits to what can be done in the face of such powerful storms. The only long-term solution, they say, is to drastically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and curb the greenhouse gas emissions driving global warming.