Hurricane Melissa Makes Category 5 Landfall in Jamaica
The Spin
Climate-concerned narrative
Hurricane Melissa is yet another piece of evidence that climate change is supercharging deadly storms right now. Ocean temperatures are 2-3 degrees above normal, creating perfect conditions for rapid intensification that wouldn't have happened decades ago. Warmer seas and atmosphere are directly fueling stronger winds, heavier rainfall, and higher storm surges.
Climate-skeptic narrative
The influence of climate change on stalling hurricanes remains uncertain. For Hurricane Melissa, it's unclear how much climate change contributed versus natural variability. Rapid attribution studies offer early insights, but full assessments need detailed data and time. Currently, there's no confirmed link between climate change and Melissa's intensity. Climate alarmism is detrimental to analyzing situations like these.