Alexander Baker

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Hurricane Melissa on October 28. Cuba (top) and Hispaniola (right) are visible. Jamaica is directly beneath the storm. NOAA / Alamy

October 29, 2025

Alexander Baker, University of Reading and Liz Stephens, University of Reading

In a single day, Melissa exploded from a moderate storm into a major hurricane with 170mph winds.

Ex-hurricane Ophelia striking the British Isles on October 16, 2017. NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)

May 18, 2021

Alexander Baker, University of Reading

Storms which originate in the tropics and reach Europe aren’t as rare as scientists once thought.