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Category 5 Hurricane Melissa Strikes Jamaica, Climate Change Concerns Rise

10/29/2025

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Hurricane Melissa Strikes

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica on October 28, 2025, as a Category 5 storm with 185 mph winds.
The storm ranks among the strongest Atlantic hurricanes, tying with Hurricane Dorian and the Labor Day hurricane of 1935.
The U.S. Air Force's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, the Hurricane Hunters, aborted missions due to severe turbulence.
Experts warn climate change is intensifying hurricanes, leading to more frequent major storms.

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NOAA Aircraft Aborts Mission

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, forced NOAA's WP-3D Orion turboprop aircraft Kermit to abort a data-collection mission due to severe turbulence.
Kermit recorded winds of 165 mph in Melissa's eyewall, the strongest hurricane of the year.
NOAA's hurricane hunter flights continue during a government shutdown, deemed essential for public safety.
The data collected informs meteorologists about storm conditions and aids in predicting movements.

History

Historical Context

The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, which struck Florida on September 2, remains one of the most intense hurricanes in history, with winds exceeding 185 mph. It caused catastrophic damage, particularly in the Florida Keys, and resulted in approximately 408 deaths. The recent landfall of Hurricane Melissa as a Category 5 storm in 2025 underscores the increasing intensity of hurricanes, linked to climate change.

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Hurricane Melissa Strikes

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica on October 28, 2025, as a Category 5 storm with 185 mph winds.
The storm ranks among the strongest Atlantic hurricanes, tying with Hurricane Dorian and the Labor Day hurricane of 1935.
The U.S. Air Force's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, the Hurricane Hunters, aborted missions due to severe turbulence.
Experts warn climate change is intensifying hurricanes, leading to more frequent major storms.

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