Melissa Becomes 100th Name To Be Retired Hurricane Melissa has been officially retired as the 100th Atlantic hurricane name to be removed from the list following the devastation it caused in the Caribbean during the 2025 hurricane season. The decision to retire the name was announced during the annual meeting of the World Meteorological Organization’s hurricane committee. The storm, which made landfall in early October 2025, left widespread destruction across the region, prompting the committee to take the unprecedented step of retiring the name to honor the victims and acknowledge the storm’s impact. The retirement of Melissa marks a significant milestone in the history of hurricane naming, as it is the first time a name has been retired in the Atlantic basin to commemorate the human toll of a specific storm. The committee’s decision reflects the organization’s commitment to ensuring that the names of storms that cause extreme damage or loss of life are no longer used, allowing for a more respectful and accurate record of historical events. The name Melissa will now be replaced by a new designation, though the exact replacement was not disclosed in the announcement. The process of selecting a new name involves a review of the list of available names, which are chosen from a predetermined pool of 21 names for each hurricane season. The replacement name will be added to the list for future use, ensuring that the legacy of Melissa is preserved while allowing the meteorological community to continue its work. The retirement of Melissa underscores the growing intensity and frequency of hurricanes in the Atlantic, a trend linked to climate change and shifting weather patterns.#climate_change #caribbean #world_meteorological_organization #hurricane_melissa #atlantic_hurricane
