Overview
- The National Hurricane Center declared Melissa a powerful post-tropical cyclone Friday, ending formal advisories after its 10-day run.
- Officials report about 49–50 deaths across the region, including 19 confirmed in Jamaica and roughly 30–31 in Haiti, with counts expected to rise as access improves.
- Jamaica reports about 462,000 power customers offline and severe damage in towns such as Black River, where on-the-ground assessments describe near-total roof loss.
- AccuWeather estimates $48–$52 billion in damage and economic loss across the western Caribbean, with prolonged business disruptions expected.
- A rapid Imperial College analysis estimates human-driven warming increased Melissa’s wind speeds by around 11 mph, while officials warn of fake AI videos spreading false damage claims.