Hurricane Melissa , which made landfall in both Jamaica and Cuba in the last two days, followed what has unfortunately become a familiar pattern for major storms in a warming world.

The most catastrophic storms — those with the most intense winds and soaking rains — were once rare, but they are becoming more likely because of climate change. And similarities are emerging among these powerful hurricanes’ behavior and timing, too.

Before Melissa hit Jamaica as a Category 5 monster, it churned over especially warm waters — as did other hurricanes over the past decade. This allowed it to strengthen at blistering pace, becoming the most powerful of this year’s Atlantic season and tying the record for strongest landfall ever in the Atlantic.

Then the storm slowed to a crawl, giving it more t

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