Jamaica braces for record breaking hurricane Melissa

Photo: REUTERS, photo editor: Adelina Mamedova

Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a Category 5 storm — the most powerful tropical cyclone in the world so far in 2025 — and is set to hit Jamaica, the BBC reported, citing the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).

With sustained winds of up to 282 kilometers per hour and extremely low central pressure, Melissa ranks among the strongest hurricanes on record since systematic monitoring began in 1851. The storm is rapidly approaching the Caribbean island, bringing catastrophic winds, torrential rain and extensive flooding.

At least three people in Jamaica have died ahead of landfall, with four additional fatalities reported in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which have already experienced heavy rain and flooding from the system.

Officials have issued evacuation orders across vulnerable areas in Jamaica, warning residents to remain indoors as rainfall totals could reach up to 40 inches (100 cm) in some regions. The government has opened 881 emergency shelters nationwide.

Experts warn that Melissa’s slow movement could worsen the impact, prolonging intense rainfall and increasing the risk of landslides, particularly in mountainous areas.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged citizens to comply with safety directives, stating: «We will weather this storm and rebuild stronger.» The NHC forecasts that Melissa will move northward over Cuba and the Bahamas later this week, with hurricane conditions expected to extend across parts of the northern Caribbean.