Science Quickly How Hurricane Melissa Became a Meteorologic Outlier
Nov 3, 2025
Andrea Thompson, a Senior Editor at Scientific American and expert in weather and climate, dives into the extraordinary Hurricane Melissa. She explains its rare Category 5 status and how it stunned meteorologists with peak wind speeds comparable to Pacific supertyphoons. The discussion highlights the storm's devastation in Jamaica and Haiti, including roof losses and landslides. Additionally, Thompson touches on intriguing topics like the links between viral infections and heart health, unusual black hole collisions, and the rationality of chimpanzees.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Melissa's Unprecedented Intensity
- Hurricane Melissa reached 185 mph winds, an intensity more typical of West Pacific super typhoons than Atlantic storms.
- It stayed at Category 5 strength for over 24 hours and kept intensifying near land, making it an extraordinary outlier.
Jamaica 'Wasn't Even There'
- Andrea Thompson relayed a meteorologist's reaction that Jamaica 'wasn't even there' as Melissa passed, illustrating the storm's dominance.
- Despite interacting with land, Melissa remained exceptionally strong and only weakened modestly afterward.
A Quiet U.S. Season Masks Intensity
- The season felt quiet in the U.S. because many storms stayed at sea or affected the Caribbean rather than making U.S. landfall.
- Overall storm energy hovered near average, but the distribution shifted toward more intense storms this year.