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Hurricane Melissa, an unusual and extraordinarily powerful Category 5 storm with sustained winds reaching 282 km/h (175 mph), approached Jamaica from the south on October 27, 2025.
At 7:29 PM local time (UTC-5), the storm’s outer bands had already begun lashing the southern and central parishes with heavy rain, gusty winds, and an initial storm surge.
Located approximately 225 km southwest of Kingston and 178 km south of Negril Point, Melissa was moving slowly northwest at about 3-5 km/h (2-3 mph) before initiating a turn toward the northeast.
This slow pace, driven by its slow passage through the warm Caribbean Sea, prolonged its onslaught, exacerbating the risk of catastrophic flooding and landslides.
At that time, no area of the island was spared tropical-storm-force winds (63-117 km/h), with hurricane-force winds (over 119 km/h) battering southern coastal areas such as Clarendon, St. Catherine, and Manchester.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) described the situation as “catastrophic and life-threatening,” noting Melissa as potentially the strongest hurricane ever to directly hit Jamaica, surpassing the Category 4 Hurricane Gilbert of 1988.
At 7:29 p.m., Melissa’s effects were rapidly intensifying in Jamaica, transitioning from preparatory warnings to active destruction. Major impacts included:
Winds and structural damage: Sustained winds of 257-280 km/h (165-175 mph) near the hurricane’s eye uprooted trees and downed power lines.
Early video footage from Manchester Parish showed strong gusts bending palm trees and scattering debris.
Southern coastal communities, such as Port Royal and Rocky Point, reported initial roof damage to poorly constructed homes.
Thousands of people in Kingston and surrounding areas experienced power outages, and the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) confirmed power grid failures in low-lying areas.
Rainfall and flooding: Since this morning, heavy rains accumulated between 10 and 15 centimeters of water, saturating the ground already soaked by previous October rains.
Flash floods saturated roads in Portland and St. Ann Parishes, stranding vehicles and forcing rescues.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast totals between 15 and 30 inches (38 to 76 centimeters) for Tuesday, with isolated areas reaching 40 inches (101 centimeters), causing rivers to overflow their banks in the Copper and Black River basins.
A storm surge of 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2.1 meters) inundated beaches in Kingston Harbor and the southern outskirts of Montego Bay, eroding shorelines and flooding coastal properties.
The higher elevations of the Blue Mountains experienced wind gusts of up to 200 mph (320 km/h), triggering minor landslides that blocked rural access roads.
All 881 emergency shelters were activated and vacant, housing more than 10,000 evacuees by nightfall. Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston had closed earlier, stranding travelers, including vacationing Oklahoma residents.
Schools, ports, and non-essential services were closed across the island. Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged prayer and resilience in a late afternoon briefing, emphasizing, “We have prepared, but this storm is testing our faith.”
As of 7:29 p.m., no confirmed fatalities were reported, but emergency services logged hundreds of calls for assistance, and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) coordinated with international partners, such as the U.S. military, to provide assistance.
Melissa’s direct landfall, expected early Tuesday morning on Jamaica’s southern coast near Black River or Treasure Beach, promised unprecedented devastation.
The storm’s slow movement (less than 8 km/h) meant prolonged exposure, which could last 24 to 48 hours under extreme weather conditions. Forecasters warned of:
Widespread destruction. Total structural failure in the path of the hurricane’s eye, especially in elevated or rural areas, could destroy homes, schools, and utilities.
Extensive damage to infrastructure could isolate communities for weeks, with roads washed out and bridges swept away by landslides.
Power and communications outages could persist for days or months, hampering rescue efforts.
Up to 101 cm of rain threatened unimaginable flash floods and mudslides, especially in mountainous districts such as Portland and Cockpit Country.
Low-lying areas faced a storm surge of between 2.7 and 4 meters, which could flood Kingston’s coastline and displace tens of thousands of people.
With 3 million residents at risk, the consequences included hundreds of injuries or deaths from drowning, debris, or landslides.
Vulnerable groups—elderly people, children, and informal settlements—faced greater danger. Economic losses could exceed $10 billion, harming tourism (cruise ship diversions) and agriculture (ruining banana and coffee crops).
Before making landfall, Melissa had already caused three deaths in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic due to flooding. After passing Jamaica, it is expected to weaken to a Category 3 storm over eastern Cuba on Tuesday night, and then to a Category 2 storm over the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands on Wednesday, prolonging regional recovery challenges.
The storm’s rapid intensification—from a tropical storm to a Category 5 storm in less than 48 hours—was linked to record-breaking ocean warmth, highlighting the role of climate change in amplifying these phenomena.
At 7:29 p.m. on October 27, Hurricane Melissa transitioned from a distant threat to an active catastrophe for Jamaica, its slow progress guaranteeing hours of increasing danger overnight.
This event underscores the island’s vulnerability to high-intensity Atlantic hurricanes, demanding rapid international support for reconstruction.
As Prime Minister Holness noted, “The world is praying for Jamaica,” a call echoed globally, including by U.S. leaders.
Recovery will be prolonged, but Jamaica’s history of resilience, reflected in post-Gilbert recoveries, offers hope.
For those in the affected areas, shelter in place, conserve resources, and await official updates.
Broader lessons point to the urgent need for strengthened infrastructure, early warning systems, and global emissions reductions to curb future intensifications. As Melissa moves forward, the focus is on survival tonight and solidarity tomorrow. Stay safe in Jamaica.
