«`html

GreenWeather & Science

Hurricane Melissa’s Dangerous ‘Dirty Side’ Poses Threat to Kingston

As Hurricane Melissa approaches Jamaica, forecasts indicate that the storm will move northward. This trajectory places Kingston, the country’s capital and most populated city, at risk from the storm’s notorious «dirty side,» which is known for its intensified winds and hazardous storm surges.

A local resident observes powerful waves crashing against the Kingston Waterfront in anticipation of Hurricane Melissa’s imminent landfall on October 27.

Photographer: Ricardo Makyn/AFP/Getty Images

By Brian K Sullivan | October 27, 2025 at 9:32 PM UTC

Hurricane Melissa is expected to make landfall early Tuesday, unleashing devastating winds and towering storm surges along Jamaica’s southern coast. The storm’s eye, with winds reaching an astonishing 175 miles per hour (282 kilometers per hour), represents the most dangerous location within the storm. However, the area to the east, including Kingston, is poised to experience the fury of Melissa’s ‘dirty side’.

The term «dirty side» refers to the part of a hurricane where winds are amplified due to the storm’s forward motion. In the Northern Hemisphere, hurricanes rotate counter-clockwise due to the Coriolis Effect, meaning that if the storm tracks northward, the right side of the storm becomes particularly hazardous.

«`

Source: Original