Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a rare Category 5 storm—now the strongest of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season—aiming toward Jamaica with life-threatening winds, torrential rain, and catastrophic storm surge. Jamaicans are urged to shelter immediately as the nation faces what could be its strongest hurricane in recorded history.
Top Takeaways
- Hurricane Melissa is a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 175 mph, making it the strongest hurricane of the year and possibly the most powerful ever to hit Jamaica.
- Landfall is expected early Tuesday, October 28, near Jamaica’s southern coast, with the eye forecast to pass directly over the island before heading toward eastern Cuba and the Bahamas.
- Official storm surge warnings predict water rise of up to 13 feet above ground in eastern Jamaica, with rainfall totals possibly exceeding 40 inches in some areas—posing a grave threat of flooding and landslides.
- At least four deaths reported so far in Haiti and Dominican Republic; Jamaica and southern Cuba now bracing for direct impact.
- Airports and crucial infrastructure across Jamaica are closed, evacuations and shelters activated, and a state of emergency declared.
Latest Tracking, Path & Timing
As of the latest update, Hurricane Melissa is centered about 130 miles southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, moving slowly northwest at 3 mph. The storm will likely make landfall overnight into Tuesday morning, October 28. NOAA models show the system crossing the entire island from south to north, unleashing the strongest, most destructive winds in the eyewall as it passes through the parishes of Westmoreland, Saint Elizabeth, Manchester, and Clarendon, with Kingston and St. Andrew also enduring extreme conditions.
After Jamaica:
- Hurricane Melissa’s core is expected to move over eastern Cuba by Tuesday night, then toward the Bahamas midweek.
- Spaghetti models and NHC forecasts agree that Hurricane Melissa should eventually turn northeast as it exits the Caribbean later this week.
Record-Setting Winds, Flooding, and Storm Surge
- Wind: Maximum sustained winds at landfall could reach 175 mph, with gusts over 200 mph possible in mountainous regions.
- Rain: Widespread totals of 15–30 inches; up to 40 inches possible in places—creating devastating flash flooding and landslides, especially in central and eastern Jamaica.
- Storm Surge: Expected rise of 9–13 feet above ground; dangerous waves battering Kingston, Montego Bay, Negril, and low-lying coastlines.
Jamaica’s government warns of “total structural failure” in hardest-hit areas, extended power outages, road closures, and risks to drinking water, food, and communications.
Melissa at a Glance
| Detail | Status (Oct 27–28, 2025) |
|---|---|
| Category | 5 |
| Winds | 175 mph, gusts up to 215 mph |
| Landfall | Early Tuesday, October 28, Jamaica |
| Rainfall | 15–30 in (up to 40 in in some areas) |
| Storm Surge | Up to 13 feet |
| Airports | Closed (Kingston, Montego Bay) |
| Deaths (pre-Jamaica) | 4 (Haiti/DR), at least 1 missing |
| States of Emergency | Jamaica, southern Cuba, Bahamas |
Warnings, Impact & What’s Next
Meteorologists stress: “Prepare to ride this out for several days.” Power and communications may be cut off for extended periods. Flooding and landslides will likely isolate communities. The storm’s slow movement is making conditions even worse, prolonging extreme impacts as the eye passes over the island.
After Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa is expected to affect eastern Cuba and the Bahamas—with flooding, wind, and surge—though a gradual weakening is likely as it interacts with land.
“Hurricane Melissa is the strongest storm ever forecast to strike Jamaica and will likely change the landscape for years to come,” warns the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Cruise ships and air travel are rerouted, and government shelters are open across all vulnerable parishes.
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