Hurricane Melissa poses an extraordinarily grave threat, primarily due to its projected wind speeds of 185 mph at the point of landfall. This immense intensity signifies that the storm is likely to surpass the destructive impact of all previous cyclones the affected island has ever endured. Winds of this magnitude are capable of causing catastrophic damage, including widespread structural collapse of buildings, the uprooting of large trees, and the generation of life-threatening airborne debris. Such powerful forces are also expected to lead to extensive power outages and severely compromise critical infrastructure, potentially necessitating recovery efforts far more extensive than those following any historical weather event in the region. The exceptional velocity of Melissa’s winds marks it as an unprecedented and highly dangerous meteorological phenomenon for the island.


