Hurricane Melissa Approaches Jamaica: A Life-Threatening Storm

Mon Oct 27 2025 08:47:30 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Hurricane Melissa, potentially a category five storm, is set to impact Jamaica with severe weather, flash floods, and landslides, prompting urgent evacuation orders.

As Hurricane Melissa strengthens, it is on track to hit Jamaica, threatening devastating flooding and landslides. With winds reaching 120 mph, the storm is expected to bring significant rain and power outages, prompting prompt action from local authorities and residents.

Hurricane Melissa Approaches Jamaica: A Life-Threatening Storm

Hurricane Melissa is forecasted to intensify into a rare category five storm as it makes its way towards Jamaica, posing serious threats of life-threatening flash flooding and landslides.

The cyclone, boasting winds of up to 120 mph (195 km/h) as of early morning, is currently tracking northwest across the Caribbean and is anticipated to hit land by Tuesday, according to updates from the US National Hurricane Center.

Residents are warned to expect power outages and significant infrastructure damage, as Melissa could bring up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) of rain and sea level surges reaching as high as 13 feet (4 meters). Seek shelter now, emergency services have urged.

This season's hurricane roster has already seen Melissa emerge as the 13th hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season, which typically concludes in November.

A category five hurricane is recognized as the most powerful level, characterized by winds exceeding 157 mph. Although the storm is projected to downgrade to category four before reaching Jamaica, experts caution that its impacts will still be severe.

Officials emphasize the need for swift preparation, as tropical-storm-quality winds and torrential rain are expected to hit central Jamaica, including the capital, Kingston. The National Hurricane Center declared that a multi-day wave of damaging winds and heavy rainfall will result in catastrophic flash flooding and landslides.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness addressed the anxious population, stating: The best way to address anxiety is to be prepared, encouraging citizens to properly secure their homes and gather necessary supplies.

Warnings extend beyond Jamaica, with parts of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and eastern Cuba also anticipating Melissa's perilous effects. In Haiti, landslides attributed to the storm have already resulted in fatalities, with two reported casualties.

As Hurricane Melissa approaches Cuba midweek, expectations are that it will weaken to a category three storm by the time it passes over the island. However, a growing body of research links climate change to an increase in severity and frequency of such extreme weather events.

Warm ocean temperatures provide a fertile ground for storm formation, which has led to predictions of above-normal activity for this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, as declared by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.