Hurricane approaching. Hurricane Melissa strongest since records began.
Credit: Photobank-2 – Shutterstock
Hurricane Melissa, the strongest storm on Earth this year, is barrelling toward Jamaica as a ferocious Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds reaching 280 kph.
Meteorologists are warning of catastrophic destruction, including life-threatening floods, landslides, and total infrastructure failures across the island. Expected to make landfall early Tuesday, Melissa could be the most powerful hurricane to strike Jamaica since records began in 1851.
As of early Tuesday, October 28, Melissa‘s central pressure dropped to 901 millibars, surpassing Hurricane Katrina‘s intensity from 2005. The storm’s sluggish onwards forward speed of just 4 kph will allow for a prolonged battering, with forecasts predicting up to 1 metre of rain in isolated areas over four days. This extreme rainfall on already saturated ground will mean a heightened risk of widespread flooding and mudslides, especially in mountainous regions where winds could gust 30 per cent stronger.
Incredible footage has been taken by the Hurricane Hunter Flights. See below:
Hurricane Melissa claimed 4 lives already – more feared
Jamaica has reported three storm-related deaths so far, with tropical storm conditions already lashing the island. The government has issued mandatory evacuations for vulnerable coastal communities in Kingston and surrounding areas and has been mobilising school buses to transport residents to 881 activated shelters. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has expressed the need for preparation and compliance, saying that no regional infrastructure can withstand Category 5 forces.
Other than Jamaica, Melissa has claimed four lives across Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Heavy rains led to deadly floods, sweeping away a 79-year-old man in Santo Domingo and leaving a 13-year-old missing after ocean currents dragged him from the shore. Hundreds of homes have been flooded in Haiti, compounding vulnerabilities in the region.
Building collapses, evacuations, looting risks as Hurricane Melissa threatens Caribbean
The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) described “eyewall” conditions (the most intense of a hurricane) where complete building collapses are probable. The Bahamas face impacts Wednesday, alongside tropical storm effects in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Melissa’s rapid intensification from tropical origins goes to show its rarity, making it the planet’s biggest storm by wind speed and pressure for 2025. NOAA Hurricane Hunter flights encountered severe turbulence, aborting one mission but continuing data collection to perfect forecasts.
Communities like Hagley Gap in southeast Jamaica remain isolated by impassable roads, leaving residents fearful and immobile. On the north coast, reinforced homes offer some protection, but there are concerns for lowland areas where a reluctance to evacuate originates from fears of looting.
Post-storm recovery poses continued dangers, including contaminated floodwaters, mould growth, structural hazards, and power outages. Officials say to wait for official all-clear signals, with plans to inspect properties cautiously, documenting damage for insurance, and addressing mental health strains from the ordeal.
As Melissa inches north-northeast, about 225 kilometres southwest of Kingston, the Caribbean braces for unprecedented devastation. The Category 5 hurricane threat shows the escalating power of Atlantic storms that need heightened preparedness.
