Historic Category 5 Hurricane

Hurricane Melissa is the 3rd Category 5 hurricane this year, but the 4th major hurricane of the season. The hurricane made landfall in on Tuesday, October 28th, 2025 at 12 pm in southwest Jamaica. It made landfall with maximum sustained winds of 185mph and a minimum pressure of 892 millibars. That makes Melissa tied for the 3rd strongest hurricane (based off pressure) in the Atlantic Basin.

It also makes it tied as the strongest hurricane to make landfall with it's minimum pressure of 892. The only other hurricane to make landfall with a pressure that low was the "Labor Day" hurricane of 1935.

The History of Hurricane Melissa

Originally forecasted to stay a tropical storm, this hurricane wildly overperformed as the motion of the storm slowed from 24 mph to 3 mph. This gave it plenty of time to organize and intensify in the Caribbean. On Sunday, October 26th, the storm underwent rapid intensification into a Category 5 hurricane.

Melissa - A Slow, but Destructive Mover

As a major hurricane, Melissa was a slow-moving storm. On Monday it was crawling at only 3 mph. This was a scary situation for Jamaica, because the slower it was moving, the longer it would linger, bringing prolonged exposure to destructive winds, heavier rainfall totals, and an increased risk of flooding and landslides.

Warnings From Officials

Jamaican Emergency Management Services advises residents to stay in their safe shelters and not to leave. Additionally, for tourists in Ocho Rios, most resorts are now on lockdown. The National Hurricane Center is warning of life-threatening flash flooding and landslides likely in Jamaica through Tuesday. Eyewall wind speeds have the potential to cause "complete structural failure", especially in higher elevation areas. Strongest conditions are expected Tuesday morning until this evening. Storm surge and damaging waves are expected to be life-threatening if caught nearby. 

Another Landfall is Likely

The hurricane officially made landfall at 12 pm CDT on Tuesday, October 28th, 2025. It is the strongest landfalling hurricane in the last 90 years. It ties the record with the 1935 "Labor Day" Hurricane.

Now, the storm will track northeast and make another landfall on Cuba, then threaten the Bahamas with high winds and heavy rain.

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Haiti and Dominican Republic Update

Haiti and the Dominican Republic are also expected to experience life-threatening conditions starting Tuesday night, into Wednesday. By Tuesday night, the Southeast Bahamas and Turks and Caicos will also undergo hurricane-force conditions and life-threatening flooding and surge. Preparations for shelter should be complete well in advance of Tuesday night. 

The History of Hurricanes in Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa is officially the strongest hurricane that has ever impacted Jamaica. The last major hurricane to make landfall on the island was Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. This major storm made landfall as a category 4 hurricane, on September 12, 1988 with sustaining wind speeds of 130 mph. As it traversed across Jamaica it barely weakened back into a category 3 hurricane with winds of 125 mph, when it exited the western side of Jamaica and re-entered the Caribbean Sea. Unfortunately, Gilbert took 45 lives and caused more than 700 million dollars worth of damage.

When is Hurricane Season?

While Melissa is a late season category 5 hurricane, major hurricanes like this can happen through November when hurricane season ends. The official start to hurricane season is June 1st and the last day is November 30th.