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Hurricane Melissa has become a defining feature of this week’s weather landscape as it wreaked havoc in the Caribbean. Dozens have died amid widespread destruction across Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica, where roofless homes, toppled utility poles and water-logged furniture dominated the landscape. Over the weekend, the system intensified into a category 5 hurricane, with sustained wind speeds reaching around 185mph, well above the 157mph threshold required for category 5 status. It is one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record. And as emergency efforts continue in the wake of its devastating path, the question is if the hurricane could have some impact on Wales and the rest of the UK. According to the Met Office, it is predicted there may be some effect this side of the Atlantic, with some "unsettled conditions", but " it will not be as catastrophic". "As Hurricane Melissa continues to move north-north-eastwards through the Caribbean, attention turns to its potential path across the Atlantic," a Met Office forecast said. "Forecast models suggest that the storm will eventually encounter cooler waters and drier air, which should lead to its weakening. "However, there remains some uncertainty about its exact track, with some models indicating a possible approach towards the UK or even Iceland. "It is important to note that hurricanes do not typically reach the UK in their tropical form. Instead, as they cross the Atlantic, they transition into extratropical systems, sometimes referred to as 'ex-hurricanes', which can still bring wet and windy weather, but without the extreme winds and rainfall associated with their earlier stages. "For Melissa, the current outlook suggests that while it may bring some unsettled conditions to the UK, it will not be as catastrophic as it has been for the Caribbean." The forecast added: "The Met Office’s global model, along with other international models, continues to monitor the storm’s progress. "There is a possibility that Melissa could bring some wet and windy weather to parts of the UK, particularly in the northwest, but the most severe impacts are expected to remain well to the south and west. "As always, the situation will be closely monitored, and forecasts will be updated as new data becomes available. "While the focus has been on Hurricane Melissa, there is also the potential for another area of low pressure to develop and affect the UK later in the week. This system, separate from Melissa, could bring strong winds and outbreaks of rain, particularly to western areas. "The Met Office, in collaboration with Met Éireann and KNMI in the Netherlands, is monitoring the situation to determine whether the system meets the criteria for a named storm. At present, it does not appear likely, but the situation could change with new model runs." Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find the weather forecast where you live
