Catastrophic Hurricane Melissa Slams Jamaica: Earth's Strongest Storm of 2025 Ranks as Fifth-Most Intense Atlantic Hurricane Ever Recorded

In a scene of almost apocalyptic destruction, Hurricane Melissa, a catastrophic Category 5 storm, is set to pummel Jamaica, causing life-threatening storm surges, landslides, and power outages Sky Sports. Driven by devastating sustained winds of 185-mph, Melissa, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history, is about to make landfall in Jamaica, threatening to devastate the island nation NBC Sports.Hurricane warnings are flying in Jamaica for the expected arrival Tuesday morning of their strongest hurricane on record: Category 5 Hurricane Melissa. Melissa put on an imposing display of rapid intensification over the weekend, peaking at 2 p.m. EDT Monday as a potentially catastrophic Category 5 hurricane with 175 mph (280 km/h) winds and a central pressure of 906 mb Football Web Pages. By Tuesday morning, the storm had intensified further.Breaking Records: The Numbers Behind the MonsterAt 6 a.m. ET, Melissa was at 901 millibars. Three hours later, the NHC advised it had dropped to 896 millibars, making the storm stronger than hurricanes Katrina and Milton. By 10 a.m. ET, the storm reached 892 millibars NBC Sports. This rapid pressure drop places Melissa in extraordinarily rare company among the most powerful hurricanes ever observed.Melissa is the fifth most intense Atlantic basin hurricane on record by pressure and the strongest to make landfall since Hurricane Dorian in 2019, according to hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry NBC Sports. Ranked using its surface air pressure, the storm is even more impressive – it's number 6 of the top 10 most intense storms since 1979 (when such reliable data began), according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Philip Klotzbach Wikipedia.The 185 mph winds make it the second-strongest storm in terms of wind speed in Atlantic history, trailing only Hurricane Allen (190 mph) from 1980. It is tied with four other storms as the second-strongest storm in history, by wind speed NBC Sports. Melissa, with a central pressure of 901 millibars thus far, is stronger than Katrina and stands in line only behind such notorious storms as Wilma and Rita Wikipedia.Melissa is also the third-strongest hurricane in terms of pressure anywhere across the Atlantic during October, behind Wilma (26.05 inches of mercury, 882 mb) and Milton (26.43 inches of mercury, 895 mb) LiveScore.Unprecedented Satellite IntensityAccording to Lowry, the satellite estimates of Melissa's intensity using the standard Dvorak satellite intensity estimation technique hit the highest value ever recorded for an Atlantic hurricane on Monday morning: an unadjusted T8.3 value. The previous record was T8.0, held by Category 5 Gilbert in 1988, which devastated Jamaica as a Category 3 hurricane with 125 mph winds Football Web Pages.Typically, a current satellite intensity value of 8.0 would suggest a Category 5 hurricane with pressures below 900 mb and winds nearing 200 mph. In the case of Melissa, observations from hurricane hunters have been finding consistently weaker winds and higher pressures than satellite estimates would otherwise suggest Football Web Pages.Record Wind Measurements and Extreme TurbulenceA dropsonde released by the Hurricane Hunters at 8:55 a.m. EDT recorded an astonishing wind gust of 241 mph (388 km/h) at an altitude of 709 feet, one of the highest wind gusts ever measured in a hurricane Football Web Pages. This extraordinary measurement demonstrates the violent energy within Melissa's circulation.An Air Force hurricane hunter reported birds were trapped in the eye, and NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft N42RF (Kermit) was forced to abort their flight after two eye penetrations into Melissa on Monday morning, after encountering extreme turbulence in the southwestern eyewall. This is only the fifth time I'm aware of that the NOAA Hurricane Hunters have had to abort a flight because of extreme turbulence (the others: Allen in 1980, Emily in 1987, Hugo in 1989, and Felix in 2007) Football Web Pages.The Deadly Crawl: Record Slow Forward Speed"The significant danger posed by Melissa is made even worse due to its record slow forward speed. An exclusive AccuWeather analysis of hurricanes since 1971 in the same area of the Caribbean as Melissa shows that Melissa's average forward speed so far in this region is just 4.6 mph, which is the slowest on record," AccuWeather Senior Director of Forecast Operations Dan DePodwin explained LiveScore.Melissa's slow crawl means Jamaica will be under its grip for many hours once the center nears land Wikipedia. This prolonged battering multiplies the destructive potential, as hours upon hours of catastrophic winds, torrential rain, and storm surge will pound the island without respite.A Worst-Case Scenario for JamaicaIt is "a worst-case scenario unfolding for Jamaica," he said NBC Sports. Melissa is so powerful it will reshape Jamaica for years to come and could trigger a humanitarian disaster. Jamaica has never taken a hit from a Category 5, with a UN agency describing it as the "storm of the century" NBC Sports."There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5," Prime Minister Andrew Holness said. "The question now is the speed of recovery Sky Sports."In a 10 a.m. update, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said this is the "last chance to protect your life," calling Melissa an "extremely dangerous" hurricane Sky Sports. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Air Force Reserve hurricane hunters found Melissa is strengthening and warned "total structural failure is possible near the path of Melissa's center." "This is an extremely dangerous and a life-threatening situation. Take cover now! NBC SportsThe Human Toll Already MountingMelissa is responsible for seven deaths – three in Jamaica during storm preparations, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic NBC Sports. By October 26, prior to Melissa's landfall on Jamaica, two people in Saint Elizabeth and Hanover Parishes died while attempting to cut down trees in preparation of the hurricane Sky Sports.At least seven fatalities have already been reported across the Caribbean due to the monstrous hurricane, which has been slowly tracking near Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica for days. The death toll is likely to rise as Melissa sweeps across Jamaica, eastern Cuba and the Bahamas LiveScore.Catastrophic Storm Surge and RainfallA life-threatening storm surge of up to 13 feet (4 meters) is expected across southern Jamaica, with officials concerned about the impact on some hospitals along the coastline NBC Sports.Melissa is expected to bring 15 to 30 inches of rain to areas of Jamaica and 6 to 12 inches to southern Hispaniola (the island split into Haiti and the Dominican Republic) through Wednesday, with a total of 40 inches possible in some places, the hurricane center said. "Catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides are likely," the center emphasized LiveScore."The island's terrain makes it even worse," CBS News Philadelphia meteorologist Andrew Kozak explained. "Jamaica's mountains force the air to rise, and that creates more rain" LiveScore. This orographic effect will concentrate rainfall in mountainous regions, creating perfect conditions for devastating landslides that could bury entire communities.Climate Change Fuels the MonsterHurricane Melissa's intensification into the strongest storm on Earth so far this year, and one of the strongest storms on record in the Atlantic Ocean, was fueled by unusually hot ocean temperatures in the Caribbean Wikipedia.According to the climate science research group Climate Central, the ocean temperatures in the vicinity of Hurricane Melissa's path were about 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit above average for this time of the year Wikipedia."That part of the Atlantic is extremely warm right now — around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), which is 2 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal," Akshay Deoras, a meteorologist at the University of Reading in the U.K., told The Associated Press. "And it's not just the surface. The deeper layers of the ocean are also unusually warm, providing a vast reservoir of energy for the storm" LiveScore.Rapid Intensification: A Climate-Driven PhenomenonThe storm underwent two periods of rapid intensification, with its maximum sustained winds first jumping from 70 mph on Saturday morning to 140 mph just 24 hours later. Then from Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon its peak winds spiked again, going from 140 mph to 175 mph. Such bouts of rapid intensification are becoming more frequent as the climate warms Wikipedia.This explosive strengthening left little time for final preparations. Communities that might have expected a strong hurricane suddenly faced a historic Category 5 monster, compressing evacuation timelines and overwhelming preparation efforts.Preparations and EvacuationsColin Bogle, a Mercy Corps advisor based near Kingston, said most families are sheltering in place despite the government ordering evacuations in flood-prone communities NBC Sports. "Many have never experienced anything like this before, and the uncertainty is frightening," he said NBC Sports."We will get through it together," said Evan Thompson, principal director at Jamaica's meteorological service Wikipedia. Matthew Samuda, Jamaica's water and environment minister, said he had more than 50 generators available to deploy after the storm, but warned people to set aside clean water and use it sparingly NBC Sports.The Ministry of Transportation of Jamaica deployed thirty buses for the emergency situation in Portmore, Spanish Town, Rockfort, and Montego Bay. The National Water Commission mobilized teams and equipment. The University of the West Indies ordered the evacuation of its students in Mona Sky Sports.U.N. agencies and dozens of nonprofits had food, medicine and other essential supplies prepositioned as they awaited a distribution rush after the storm NBC Sports.Kingston Under SiegeHours before the storm, the Jamaican government said it had done all it could to prepare as it warned of catastrophic damage. The streets in the capital, Kingston, remained largely empty except for the lone stray dog crossing puddles and a handful of people walking briskly under tree branches waving in a stiff wind Sky Sports.The streets of Jamaica's capital Kingston were empty Monday evening as its residents prepare for the wrath Hurricane Melissa is expected to bring to the island nation. Video shared with CNN by a resident Monday showed very few cars traveling down quiet roads. The streets appeared wet from the rainfall, with the sky overcast and cloudy Wikipedia.Local Voices: Fear and Determination"Strongest storm on the planet … hitting just that tiny dot on the world's map," Steve Dunn, owner of Dunn's Jamaica Home Center, told CNN's Laura Coates Monday night. "We're obviously scared and in some cases not quite as prepared as we'd love to be" Wikipedia.Dunn kept his hardware store open despite Melissa's threat to help his community prepare for the storm. "We have opened the store for people to come and get basic necessities. Products, generators, sandbags, plyboard," he said, to ensure "people can protect their properties and protect their families and homes." Dunn said he doesn't "think we can ever be prepared for something as a Category 5." It's a "whole lot more wind force … everything," he said. "It's really hard on us" Wikipedia.Cuba Braces for ImpactMelissa was also expected to make landfall in eastern Cuba late Tuesday as a powerful hurricane. A hurricane warning was in effect for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and Holguin provinces, while a tropical storm warning was in effect for Las Tunas NBC Sports.Cuban officials said Monday that they were evacuating more than 600,000 people from the region, including Santiago, the island's second-largest city NBC Sports. The U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay said it was moving "non-mission-essential" U.S. citizens off the island in groups ahead of severe weather from Melissa. About 1,000 U.S. military personnel have been evacuated LiveScore.For eastern Cuba, total rainfall could reach 10 to 20 inches, with as much as 25 inches in some spots from Monday into Wednesday, which could result in "life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding with numerous landslides," the center added LiveScore.Historical Context: Worse Than GilbertThe strongest previous hurricane to pound the island was Gilbert in 1988, which killed 45 people and caused more than $700 million in damage LiveScore. Melissa promises to be significantly worse. Gilbert struck as a Category 3; Melissa is making landfall as a catastrophic Category 5 with winds 60 mph stronger.For Jamaicans old enough to remember Gilbert's devastation, the terror is amplified by knowing that Melissa represents an entirely different magnitude of destruction. Infrastructure that survived Gilbert faces winds and storm surge far beyond its design limits.The Broader Caribbean ImpactMelissa also has drenched the southern regions of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with a tropical storm warning still in effect for Haiti NBC Sports. Four shelters were opened in San Juan, San Cristobal, and the National District and 61 people sought sheltering. Twelve provinces were placed under red alert. Around 90 people evacuated Saona Island Sky Sports.The Forecast Path: Bahamas and BeyondThe hurricane was forecast to turn northeast after Cuba and strike the southeast Bahamas by Wednesday evening NBC Sports. In the southeast Bahamas, forecasters said, a total rainfall of 4 to 8 inches is expected Tuesday into Wednesday, resulting in areas of flash flooding LiveScore.After devastating Jamaica, Melissa is forecast to strike eastern Cuba before sweeping across part of the Bahamas as a hurricane before potentially impacting Bermuda, Atlantic Canada and Europe LiveScore.A Remarkable 2025 Hurricane SeasonA remarkable three of the Atlantic's five hurricanes this year have hit Cat 5 Football Web Pages. This extraordinary statistic highlights how the 2025 season has defied typical patterns, producing multiple hyperintense storms despite having relatively few total hurricanes.This is the lowest pressure ever observed in the Atlantic in a hurricane so late in the season, and makes Melissa Earth's strongest storm of 2025, beating out the Western Pacific's Typhoon Ragasa (165 mph winds, 910 mb central pressure) Football Web Pages.The Rarity of Category 5 LandfallsA hurricane reaching Category 4 or 5 strength is quite a feat in itself. The two categories combined make up about 17 percent of all hurricanes in recorded history. Those reaching Category 5 — like Melissa — historically make up more like 4 percent of hurricanes ESPN.What makes Melissa even more exceptional is that Category 5 hurricanes rarely make landfall at peak intensity. Most weaken before striking land due to cooler waters, increased wind shear, or interaction with land masses. Melissa maintained—and even slightly strengthened—right up to landfall, making it a truly worst-case scenario.The Long Recovery AheadLandslides, fallen trees and numerous power outages were reported ahead of the storm, with officials in Jamaica cautioning that the cleanup and damage assessment would be slow Sky Sports. These pre-landfall impacts hint at the devastation to come once Melissa's full fury is unleashed.The economic cost will be staggering. Jamaica's tourism industry—a cornerstone of the economy—faces catastrophic damage to resorts, beaches, and infrastructure. Agricultural losses will be massive. Housing destruction will leave tens of thousands homeless. Power restoration could take weeks or months in the hardest-hit areas.Hurricanes with ferocious winds like Melissa strip leaves from trees, or down trees and branches entirely, making the once lush green forests of the tropics look bare and brown from the ground and space NBC Sports. The environmental devastation will reshape Jamaica's landscape for years.International Response MobilizingLouisiana's United Cajun Navy deploys to Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa threatens devastation Sky Sports. International aid organizations and disaster response teams are positioning resources to rush assistance as soon as conditions permit.With Hurricane Melissa inching its way north in the Caribbean, Brooklyn's Jamaican community in New York is holding its breath — and praying for loved ones back home, CNN affiliate WABC reports Wikipedia. The Jamaican diaspora worldwide watches in horror as their homeland faces its greatest natural disaster in recorded history.Lessons and Looking ForwardHurricane Melissa represents the new reality of tropical cyclones in a warming world. Record ocean temperatures provide unprecedented energy for rapid intensification. Stronger storms produce more catastrophic impacts. The margin between "very bad" and "civilization-altering" has narrowed dangerously.For Jamaica, the question isn't whether they'll survive Melissa—resilient island nations have weathered countless storms—but rather what recovery looks like after a disaster of this magnitude. Will international aid be sufficient? How long before tourism resumes? Can critical infrastructure be rebuilt to withstand future Category 5 impacts?The broader question for the Caribbean and other hurricane-prone regions: how do you prepare for storms that exceed the worst-case scenarios anyone previously imagined? When "unprecedented" becomes routine, traditional disaster planning frameworks become obsolete.ConclusionThe most powerful Atlantic hurricane of 2025 is nearing landfall in Jamaica after days of unleashing heavy rain, strong winds and pounding surf across the Caribbean. The Category 5 storm is expected to be near peak strength when it roars ashore on Tuesday LiveScore.As Hurricane Melissa's eyewall rakes across Jamaica with 185 mph winds, the island nation faces its darkest hour. The fifth-most intense Atlantic hurricane on record, Earth's strongest storm of 2025, and the most powerful hurricane Jamaica has ever experienced is rewriting the history books in the most tragic way possible.The coming hours will test Jamaica's resilience like never before. The coming days will reveal the full scope of devastation. The coming months and years will determine whether the international community provides the support necessary for full recovery.For now, all anyone can do is pray for the thousands sheltering across Jamaica as Melissa unleashes catastrophic fury unlike anything the Caribbean has witnessed in modern times. This is the storm that will be remembered for generations—not just for its remarkable meteorological statistics, but for the human suffering and heroic resilience it will inevitably produce.