US EditionClimate change boosted Hurricane Melissa's destructive winds and rain, analysis finds
Human-caused climate change increased Hurricane Melissa's wind speeds by 7% and rainfall intensity by 16%, intensifying damage across the Caribbean, scientists said.
- World Weather Attribution released an analysis Thursday finding human-caused climate change increased Hurricane Melissa's maximum wind speeds by 7% and rainfall intensity by 16%.
- Warmer ocean temperatures and higher humidity fueled Hurricane Melissa as ocean temperatures in Melissa's path were about 1.4°C warmer and climate change made these conditions six times more likely.
- Melissa produced peak sustained winds of 185 mph after rapid intensification and moved slowly across the Caribbean, drawing energy from very warm waters this year.
- Authorities report Hurricane Melissa caused 61 deaths and displaced about 25,000 in Jamaica and over 140,000 evacuated in Cuba, damaging infrastructure across affected Caribbean countries.
- Model comparisons indicate underestimation of Caribbean rainfall, with analyses estimating climate change made conditions six times more likely and increased storm frequency by about 5.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Hurricane Melissa, which swept across the Caribbean last week, was more devastating due to human-induced climate change. This is according to an initial rapid analysis by international scientists from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) collaboration, which also includes the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI). Melissa caused extensive damage in Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba. At least 75 people were killed. Damag…
Human-caused climate change increased the destructive winds and rain unleashed by Hurricane Melissa and increased the temperatures and humidity that fueled the storm, according to an analysis published Thursday.
The Record
Climate change boosted Hurricane Melissa’s destructive winds and rain, analysis finds
Human-caused climate change boosted the destructive winds and rain unleashed by Hurricane Melissa and increased the temperatures and humidity that fueled the storm, according to an analysis released Thursday.
Associated Press News
Climate change boosted Hurricane Melissa's destructive winds and rain, analysis finds
An analysis from World Weather Attribution reports human-caused climate change intensified the winds and rainfall unleashed by Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean.
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