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The Cuban meteorologist Ariel Rodríguez, residing in the United States, shared a deeply emotional message filled with concern as Hurricane Melissa, a category 4 storm, approaches Jamaica and Cuba with potentially devastating force.
"It is sad, as a meteorologist, to see that these events of rapid intensification continue to occur (...) May divine providence have mercy on all those who sleep tonight in the path of this destructive weather phenomenon. Faith is our only option in these moments," he expressed in a post that has moved hundreds of users on social media.
He explained that all the hurricanes of the current season have followed the same pattern, a sudden intensification driven by abnormally warm waters, up to 2°F or more above normal, a situation that he directly attributes to climate change caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
He also recalled that the scientific community has been warning for decades about the increase in these types of extreme phenomena, and he regretted that the warnings have been ignored.
"We have had the tools in our hands to halt this process, but sadly, everything ends in politics. I have always said that science has no color or party; I have none. My words are based on pure science, and that is my truth."
Rodríguez emphasized the urgency of discussing climate change clearly and consistently, insisting that ignoring scientists is a disservice to all of humanity.
As Hurricane Melissa continues its advance toward the western Caribbean, forecasts suggest that it could reach Category 4 in the coming hours, with sustained winds exceeding 220 km/h and storm surges threatening low-lying coastal areas of Cuba and other countries in the region.
Cuban meteorological authorities have issued a cyclone alert for several provinces in the western and central regions of the country, urging the population to stay informed and to follow civil defense instructions.
Amidst the fear, the words of the meteorologist have become a symbol of humanity, science, and faith in the face of nature's relentless power.
Ariel Rodríguez is originally from Havana, Cuba. He works as a meteorologist at Telemundo 51 Miami, where he presents the weather reports and the environmental segment "Alerta Verde."
He has more than two decades of professional experience, has worked in Orlando and Dallas, won two Emmy Awards, and has been a member of the American Meteorological Society since 2001.
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