Melissa is a beast among a string of monster Atlantic storms. Scientists explain

Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica with record winds of 185 mph, and its strength defied typical weakening factors. It also intensified quickly, gaining 70 mph in just 24 hours last week. On Tuesday, it tied strength records for landfalling Atlantic hurricanes. Meteorologists are amazed at its resilience, especially since it hovered near Jamaica’s mountains, which typically weaken storms. Hot water fueled Melissa, with some areas 2 degrees Celsius warmer than average. Climatologists link this to global warming and predict more intense storms in a warming world.