MIAMI.- The passage of maximum intensity hurricanes has left a deep mark on the history of the Caribbean y USA.
This 2025, Melissa’s formation confirms what meteorologists already warned: a atypical hurricane seasonwith phenomena more frequent and more intense than usual.
The hurricane Melissa reached this Monday category 5the maximum on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds of 280 kilometers per hourand threatens to hit the island of Jamaica.
Jamaica prepares for face one of the greatest climate challenges in recent historywhile neighboring countries remain alert to any change in the path of powerful Hurricane Melissa.
Given this, experts remember the five most devastating Category 5 hurricanes recorded in the Atlantic:
Katrina (2005)
One of the most memorable cases is Hurricane Katrinawhich caused more than 1,300 dead and damages exceeding 125 billion dollars in the American South.
These figures made it the costliest hurricane and one of the five deadliest hurricanes to hit the United States since records began, he reported EFE.
Ian (2022)
Another devastating phenomenon was Hurricane Ianwhich hit Florida leaving 150 dead and losses for more than 112 billion dollars.
Ian reached category 5 shortly before touching Floridabut was reduced to Category 4 moments before, however, this did not prevent it from becoming the most destructive hurricane in the state’s history.
María (2017)
The hurricane María caused the death of 3,000 people in Puerto Rico and devastated much of the island, leaving damage valued at $91.6 billion.
As a Category 5 hurricane, it left 60 dead and almost total destruction in Dominica.
Irma (2017)
He Hurricane Irma became one of the most powerful cyclones ever recorded, with winds greater than 215 km/hcausing some 130 muertos y 75 billion dollars in losses.
Irma made landfall on September 10, 2017 near Cudjoe Keyin the Florida Keyswith winds that were around 215 kilometers per hour.
Then he moved towards Georgia y South Carolina.
Andrew (1992)
He Hurricane Andrew (1992) was another turning point: with winds of 265 km/hdestroyed 64,000 homes and left 65 muertos in Florida, marking a before and after in prevention policies.
The damage was valued at $27 billion, at the time the costliest natural disaster on record. USA.
Hurricane season more intense than usual, why?
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) pointed out that the warming of tropical Atlantic waters It is one of the factors that explain the rapid intensification of these systems.
By 2025, a hurricane season is expected with more frequent and more intense phenomena than previously recorded.