Home / Weather / Melissa's 185 mph Winds Tie Historic Records, Fueling Calls for New Storm Category
Melissa's 185 mph Winds Tie Historic Records, Fueling Calls for New Storm Category
17 Nov
Summary
- Hurricane Melissa caused at least 75 deaths and over $4 billion in insured losses
- Melissa's sustained winds of 185 mph tied several historic Atlantic hurricane records
- Researchers propose adding a "Category 6" to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
As of November 17th, 2025, the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa continues to be assessed, with one clear takeaway: the storm's intensity confirms a troubling scientific trend years in the making. Melissa's sustained winds of 185 mph at landfall in Jamaica tied several historic Atlantic hurricane records, including Hurricane Dorian in 2019, Hurricane Wilma in 2005, and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane.
The science behind this is straightforward - the burning of fossil fuels is releasing greenhouse gases that trap heat, causing ocean temperatures to rise and fueling more powerful hurricanes. Melissa's destruction, with at least 75 deaths and over $4 billion in insured losses across the Caribbean, has reignited calls from researchers to add a new "Category 6" tier to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
As the academic discussion continues, the trend of increasingly intense hurricanes makes it clear that our understanding of this phenomenon must deepen, and efforts to curb the human activities driving climate change must intensify. The future may hold more storms on par with or exceeding Melissa's devastating impact.
