Hurricane Helene tore through the Blue Ridge, flattening forests, ripping up roots and stripping mountain slopes bare. With the canopy gone, invasive species are rushing in, threatening one of the most diverse ecosystems in the United States. Scientists say the future of this forest may not be a return to normal but to something we’ve never seen before. Learn more with Sci NC. | PBS North Carolina

Hurricane Melissa slammed into Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 storm, causing extensive flooding and power outages. As the storm barreled through the island, it toppled trees, downed power lines, flooded roads and destroyed homes and boats. Footage shows the excessive damage to infrastructure in Alligator Pond, a fishing village in Jamaica. Melissa made landfall around 1:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday with 185 mph winds, the most powerful storm to hit the island in the country's recorded history. The