Hurricane Melissa to batter Jamaica as the island's strongest storm on record in almost 2 centuries

Hurricane Melissa: Jamaica Faces Its Most Powerful Storm in Nearly 200 Years

Hurricane Melissa is poised to make history as it barrels toward Jamaica, threatening to become the most powerful storm to strike the island since official records began 174 years ago.

As of early Tuesday, October 28, 2025, the storm had intensified into a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds reaching 175 mph (280 kph). The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that Melissa was located approximately 150 miles southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, moving slowly north-northeast at just 2 mph.

The storm is expected to make landfall near St. Elizabeth parish on Jamaica’s southern coast before cutting a diagonal path across the island and exiting near St. Ann parish in the north. This trajectory places much of the island in the direct path of the hurricane’s most destructive winds and storm surge.

Officials have warned of a life-threatening storm surge of up to 13 feet (4 meters) along the southern coast, raising serious concerns for low-lying areas and coastal infrastructure, including hospitals.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness addressed the nation, acknowledging the unprecedented nature of the storm and the limitations of existing infrastructure. “There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5,” he stated, emphasizing that the real challenge would be the speed and effectiveness of the recovery efforts in the aftermath.

In preparation for the storm, the Jamaican government mobilized emergency shelters and urged evacuations in flood-prone communities.

However, many residents have chosen to shelter in place, driven by fear and uncertainty. Colin Bogle, a Mercy Corps advisor based near Kingston, described the atmosphere as one of profound fear, with many Jamaicans worried about losing their homes, livelihoods, and even their lives.

Already, Hurricane Melissa has claimed lives across the Caribbean. Seven fatalities have been reported: three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. Another person remains missing in the Dominican Republic. Landslides, fallen trees, and widespread power outages have been reported even before the storm’s full arrival.

Health Minister Christopher Tufton noted that some patients in coastal hospitals had been moved to higher floors in anticipation of the storm surge. 

Meanwhile, Water and Environment Minister Matthew Samuda urged citizens to conserve clean water, warning that supplies could become scarce in the storm’s aftermath. He confirmed that more than 50 generators were ready for deployment to critical areas.

Melissa’s destructive path does not end with Jamaica. The storm is projected to make landfall in eastern Cuba later on Tuesday, prompting hurricane warnings in the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguin. Cuban authorities have begun evacuating over 600,000 people, including residents of Santiago, the country’s second-largest city. Forecasts predict up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain in some areas and a significant storm surge along the Cuban coast.

The hurricane has already drenched parts of southern Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where tropical storm warnings remain in effect. After passing over Cuba, Melissa is expected to turn northeast and strike the southeastern Bahamas by Wednesday evening.

Hurricane warnings have been issued for the southeastern and central Bahamas, while the Turks and Caicos Islands are under a tropical storm warning.

As the Caribbean braces for further devastation, meteorologists and emergency officials continue to monitor Hurricane Melissa’s slow but unrelenting advance.

The storm’s unprecedented strength and sluggish pace have heightened fears of prolonged damage, flooding, and humanitarian crises across the region.