· 3 min read
illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 175 mph, has become the most powerful storm on Earth this year and is set to make landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday morning
• It is the strongest hurricane ever recorded to directly strike the island
• Officials have issued mandatory evacuations for coastal areas, while the National Hurricane Center warns of “catastrophic flash flooding,” landslides, and “total structural failure” from extreme winds
🔭 The context: Jamaica has not experienced a direct hurricane strike in over a decade and has never been hit by a storm of this intensity in recorded history
• Melissa underwent extreme rapid intensification in recent days — a phenomenon increasingly observed in a warming ocean
• The storm has already caused at least seven deaths across Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica
• Despite evacuation orders, some residents are refusing to leave, citing past trauma or lack of alternatives
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Hurricane Melissa is a stark illustration of the growing intensity of tropical cyclones linked to climate change
• Warmer sea surface temperatures, driven by human-induced emissions, are fuelling more destructive storms with rapid intensification and higher wind speeds
• The humanitarian and infrastructural consequences — particularly for small island developing states like Jamaica — highlight urgent vulnerabilities in climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, and infrastructure resilience
⏭️ What's next: Melissa is expected to make landfall early Tuesday, with storm surges, power outages and communication breakdowns anticipated
• Over 52,000 Jamaican customers have already lost electricity, with restoration efforts hindered by ongoing heavy rainfall
• Relief agencies are on alert, while regional and international observers monitor potential impacts on food security, housing, and displacement
• COP30 negotiators may now face renewed pressure to address climate loss and damage financing for the Caribbean
💬 One quote: “We will continue to restore power in affected communities for as long as it is safe for our crews to work,” — Jamaica Public Service (JPS)
📈 One stat: With 175 mph winds, Hurricane Melissa is the strongest storm on the planet in 2025, surpassing all previous global cyclonic systems this year in intensity
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