Florida-based relief groups launch efforts to storm-ravaged Jamaica

Jamaica is beginning a long recovery after taking the direct hit from Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall as a Category Five storm earlier this week. Communities from Montego Bay to the southern coast sustained catastrophic damage, with widespread flooding, destroyed homes, and washed-out roads.

What is minimum central pressure, and how does it measure hurricane power?

When we talk about hurricanes, the first number you usually hear is wind speed. That makes sense. Wind is what tears off roofs, knocks down trees, and turns debris into dangerous missiles. Wind kicks up waves and pushes storm surge onto beaches. But when scientists measure how intense a hurricane really is, they often focus on something you cannot feel or see: central pressure.