How did Hurricane Melissa impact the Caribbean region?

Melissa, a powerful category 5 hurricane, devastated several Caribbean nations, including Jamaica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the Bahamas, leaving dozens dead and causing billions in damage.

What role did climate change play in the intensity of Hurricane Melissa?

According to researchers, Melissa was 10% stronger and four times more likely to occur due to global warming. The conditions that allowed Melissa to rapidly intensify from a category 4 to 5 storm in just 24 hours were made 500 to 800 times more likely by human-caused climate change.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Climate Change Supercharges Hurricane Melissa, Causing Catastrophic Damage Across Caribbean

Climate Change Supercharges Hurricane Melissa, Causing Catastrophic Damage Across Caribbean

Q: How has the frequency of extreme hurricane rainfall changed in recent decades?

A report by the Canadian project Deep Sky found that the frequency of extreme hurricane rainfall has jumped by 300% over the last four decades. Severe hurricane rainfall that used to occur only once every 100 years is now expected every 25 years.

1 Nov

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Summary

Melissa was a category 5 storm that devastated several Caribbean nations
Frequency of extreme hurricane rainfall has jumped 300% in the last 4 decades
Melissa was 10% stronger and 4 times more likely due to global warming

Climate Change Supercharges Hurricane Melissa, Causing Catastrophic Damage Across Caribbean

A devastating hurricane named Melissa recently swept through the Caribbean, leaving dozens dead and causing billions in damage across Jamaica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the Bahamas. While initially dubbed the "Storm of the Century," experts warn that such extreme weather events are becoming the new normal due to the effects of climate change.

According to a report by the Canadian project Deep Sky, the frequency of extreme hurricane rainfall has jumped by 300% over the last four decades. Severe hurricane rainfall that used to occur only once every 100 years is now expected every 25 years. "These are no longer rare events," the report cautioned. "They will happen with greater frequency and severity. It's our new normal."