Hurricane Melissa latest updates: Jamaica braces for catastrophic Category 5 landfall

October 28, 2025 | admin | Latest News

Jamaica is facing the full force of Hurricane Melissa, the most powerful storm to ever strike the island since record-keeping began in the mid-1800s.

The Category 5 hurricane, packing sustained winds of 175 mph (280 km/h), is already battering the southern coast and is expected to move diagonally across the island through Tuesday.

Authorities have warned that the combination of violent winds, torrential rainfall, and towering storm surges could bring unprecedented destruction, isolating entire communities and crippling infrastructure for days.

The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Melissa underwent extreme rapid intensification, strengthening from 140 mph to 175 mph in just 24 hours — a rate that meteorologists say is fuelled by exceptionally warm Caribbean waters and low wind shear.

The storm’s slow movement, currently around 2 mph, makes it particularly dangerous, as it will linger longer over Jamaica, dumping relentless rain and intensifying flooding.

Record-breaking storm devastates Jamaica’s southern coast

By early Tuesday morning (local time), the hurricane’s eyewall began scraping Jamaica’s southern parishes, including St Elizabeth, Manchester, and Clarendon.

Forecasts predict rainfall between 15 and 30 inches (38 to 76 cm) in some areas, and storm surges up to 13 feet (4 metres) along the southern coastline. The northwestern coast, including Montego Bay, could see surges of 2 to 4 feet.

The US National Hurricane Center issued a stark warning on X, urging residents to remain sheltered.

National Hurricane Center

5AM EDT Oct 28th Key Messages for Hurricane #Melissa:

#Jamaica: Remain sheltered! Catastrophic flash flooding, landslides, and destructive winds will continue through today, causing widespread infrastructural damage, power and communication outages, and isolated communities.

3:04 PM · Oct 28, 2025

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The NHC also shared a critical update earlier, warning that Hurricane Melissa’s eyewall was expanding and its destructive winds were intensifying.

National Hurricane Center

26 October 5PM EDT: Major Hurricane #Melissa is forecast to bring Life-threatening and Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides in portions of Jamaica and southern Hispaniola through mid-week. For the latest information visit hurricanes.gov

2:49 AM · Oct 27, 2025

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According to Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), at least three people have already died during storm preparations — two from falling trees and one from electrocution.

Across the Caribbean, the storm has claimed at least seven lives: three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. The Red Cross estimates that 1.5 million Jamaicans could be affected directly or indirectly by the storm’s impact.

Nationwide closures, power outages, and mass evacuations

Two of Jamaica’s main international airports — Norman Manley International in Kingston and Sangster International in Montego Bay — have been shut since Sunday.

Over 800 shelters have been opened across the country, though officials report that many residents have opted to stay home, particularly in rural areas.

Local governments have ordered mandatory evacuations in flood-prone zones such as Old Harbour Bay in St Catherine and Port Royal in Kingston.

However, communications are breaking down in several parishes as power outages spread — with more than 52,000 customers already cut off as of early Tuesday.

Crews have been dispatched, but access to downed lines and blocked roads remains a major challenge.

In Montego Bay, emergency teams were seen clearing river channels on Monday to reduce flood risks, while in Kingston, US embassy officials advised citizens to either leave while flights were still available or shelter in place.

Regional impact: Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Cuba on high alert

Before reaching Jamaica, Melissa lashed the Dominican Republic, damaging more than 750 homes and displacing 3,800 people, according to government officials.

In Haiti, torrential rain destroyed crops in three regions, including 15 hectares of maize, worsening a food crisis that already affects 5.7 million people.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned that flooding is obstructing access to farmland and markets, jeopardising the upcoming harvest season.

In Cuba, authorities have evacuated more than 600,000 residents from eastern provinces including Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Holguín ahead of the hurricane’s expected landfall late Tuesday.

Parts of Cuba are forecast to receive up to 20 inches (50 cm) of rainfall and significant coastal storm surges.

The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands are also under alert, with tropical storm conditions expected mid-week as Melissa continues its slow northeastward crawl through the Caribbean.

Climate conditions behind Melissa’s rapid intensification

Meteorologists attribute Melissa’s exceptional power to record sea-surface temperatures in the Caribbean, which have stayed above 30°C (86°F) for weeks.

These warm waters provided ample fuel for rapid intensification, while low vertical wind shear allowed the storm’s core to remain organised and symmetrical.

Experts from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) called Melissa “the storm of the century” for Jamaica, citing its intensity and slow speed as key compounding factors.

Climate scientists say such storms are becoming more common as oceans warm, extending the duration and destructiveness of hurricane seasons.

Melissa is already the strongest storm on the planet in 2025, based on wind speed and central pressure, and serves as a stark reminder of the climate vulnerabilities facing small island nations.

Long road to recovery

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the government had “done all it could” to prepare the island but warned that recovery will be slow.

The question now is the speed of recovery. That’s the challenge.

With roads blocked, power grids down, and communications limited, the full scale of the damage remains unclear. Relief agencies are preparing for a massive humanitarian effort once conditions allow safe deployment.

The Red Cross and local rescue teams have pre-positioned supplies such as water, food, and medical kits across all parishes.

As the storm moves toward Cuba and the Bahamas, meteorologists continue to track its trajectory closely. For Jamaica, however, the next 24 hours are likely to determine the extent of one of the island’s worst natural disasters in nearly two centuries.

The post Hurricane Melissa latest updates: Jamaica braces for catastrophic Category 5 landfall appeared first on Invezz

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