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Hurricane Melissa developed over an unusually warm Atlantic Ocean, undergoing one of the fastest recorded intensifications. Within less than 24 hours, the storm's wind speeds doubled, and by October 28, it struck western Jamaica as an intense Category 5 hurricane with winds reaching 185 mph. Scientists conducting rapid-attribution studies determined that climate change increased Melissa’s wind speeds by about 10 mph. Moreover, sea-surface temperatures in some areas were found to be 2 degrees Celsius above the average, which is a clear sign of global warming's influence.
The storm caused devastating impacts across the Caribbean. At least 25 people lost their lives in Haiti, while Jamaica faced catastrophic flooding and damage. In Jamaica, the storm surge rose as high as 13 feet, rainfall topped 30 inches in some regions, and nearly 77 percent of the island experienced power outages. Over 25,000 individuals sought shelter as infrastructure in the western parishes was left in ruins. Cuba also suffered widespread damage to homes, crops, and electrical lines, although evacuations helped save many lives. Melissa weakened as it moved over the Bahamas, but its trail of destruction was significant.
Despite Melissa not making landfall in the U.S., major cable news networks provided extensive coverage of the storm. Between October 27 and 29, CNN aired 80 segments, but only 4 of those mentioned climate change. MSNBC aired 14 segments with just 1 referring to climate links, while Fox News aired 8 segments without any mention of climate change. On the corporate broadcast side, ABC had 7 segments with 1 climate mention; CBS had 8 segments with no climate mentions; and NBC aired 6 segments, including 1 climate mention. The coverage mainly focused on the storm’s record-breaking strength, its slow movement toward Jamaica, and the immediate humanitarian crisis unfolding.
Anchors and reporters interviewed government officials about ongoing evacuations, shelter availability, and power restoration efforts. Meteorologists detailed the storm’s rainfall totals, wind speeds, and storm surge. The tone was empathetic and urgent, zeroing in on the people affected and the logistical response in progress. However, what was mostly missing was the broader context explaining why hurricanes like Melissa are becoming stronger and stalling in a warming climate. There was little discussion about how policy decisions affect nations’ preparedness and response capabilities.
This lack of climate context left audiences uninformed about the underlying changes making such storms more intense. Media coverage also missed the chance to challenge the perception of a “quiet Atlantic hurricane season,” since a single destructive hurricane like Melissa can wipe away any sense of calm. With record ocean heat now the new normal, this level of threat should be considered baseline going forward.
Some standout segments did address climate change more directly. On October 28, ABC’s Good Morning America featured chief meteorologist Ginger Zee explaining how cuts during the Trump administration to NOAA and federal climate research could weaken hurricane forecasting and future preparedness. That same day on MSNBC’s Chris Jansing Reports, climate scientist Michael Mann discussed how hurricanes draw energy from ocean heat worsened by fossil fuel emissions, noting that warming has increased their strength and damage potential, and emphasizing the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels.
Overall, coverage captured the immediate danger of Hurricane Melissa and its devastating toll but failed to connect those impacts to the larger climate trends fueling more frequent and severe storms. This omission missed a critical opportunity to inform viewers about the ongoing risks and the policy choices that could influence future storm resilience.
