🌀 Historic Storm Hits
Authorities reported at least three deaths in Jamaica, part of a wider toll that includes seven fatalities across the Caribbean — three in Haiti, one in the Dominican Republic and more expected.
KINGSTON, Jamaica — October 28, 2025 — Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic Category 5 storm, has made landfall in Jamaica, marking the strongest hurricane to ever hit the island. With sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h), this devastating storm entered near St. Elizabeth parish and is poised to exit near St. Ann, slashing across the nation with a lethal combination of wind, rain and storm surge.
📉 Widespread Devastation
Melissa struck near the town of New Hope, about 39 miles south of Montego Bay, and caused significant damage across western Jamaica. The storm’s pressure dropped to a record 892 millibars, making it among the most intense Atlantic hurricanes ever.
- A life-threatening storm surge of up to 13 feet (4 meters) is expected along southern coastal areas.
- In many areas, electricity has been lost, roads washed out by floods or collapsing under landslides, and major tourist hubs like Negril and Montego Bay are cut off.
- Shelters and emergency services remain stretched: over 400,000 people were evacuated in Jamaica and neighboring regions ahead of the storm.
🌍 What’s Next — and Why It Matters
Meteorologists say Melissa will continue on a path toward eastern Cuba and the Bahamas, still as a powerful hurricane. The Weather Channel
Climate analysts point to warm sea-surface temperatures and stalled forward motion as factors intensifying the storm, underscoring concerns about more frequent “monster” hurricanes in future.
