Why was Hurricane Melissa so powerful? And did climate change play a role? Renowned climate scientist @katharinehayhoe.com separates fact from fiction. #ThisIsClimateChange

— The YEARS Project (@theyearsproject.bsky.social) 2025-10-30T13:25:25.608Z

Update: While the number may still change based on review of satellite and sonde data, Hurricane Melissa officially sustained max winds of 185mph (and peak winds of 216mph), just below the threshold proposed below.

— Katharine Hayhoe (@katharinehayhoe.com) 2025-10-29T20:11:20.292Z

“Maybe the most important thing to understand about hurricanes in the warming world is that not all of them will be able to take advantage of the raised ceiling from ocean warming... this one did,” Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social at @ucanr.edu, told @afreedma.bsky.social #HurricaneMelissa

— Pam Kan-Rice (@ucanrpam.bsky.social) 2025-10-29T18:38:03.936Z

Updated image to include Andrew and two others. I inadvertendly left out A and B's when I added the database in. Doesn't change the message BUT I am sorry about that. Very annoyed at myself!

— Jeff Berardelli (@weatherprof.bsky.social) 2025-10-30T18:56:46.522Z

From 1980-2002 THREE storms acheived extreme rapid intensification. From 2003-2025 EIGHTEEN storms achieved extreme rapid intensification. 6X increase! It’s not coincidence, it’s climate change! (source of data Dr Kieran Bhatia x.com/bhatiakieran...)

— Jeff Berardelli (@weatherprof.bsky.social) 2025-10-29T21:38:52.167Z

Nighttime polar orbiter satellite photos of Jamaica before and after #Melissa show how the power grid was affected. Melissa knocked out power to about 77% of Jamaica’s customers, said Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie. Photos from worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov

— Dr. Jeff Masters (@drjeffmasters.bsky.social) 2025-10-30T14:16:51.820Z