Hurricane Melissa Intensifies to Catastrophic Category 5, Threatens Jamaica After Deadly Impact in Haiti

Melissa Reaches Category 5 Strength

Hurricane Melissa has rapidly intensified into a catastrophic Category 5 storm, with maximum sustained winds reaching up to 175 mph, as it bears down on Jamaica. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) confirmed the upgrade early Monday, October 27, 2025, warning of an extreme threat to the Caribbean island. This makes Melissa the third Category 5 hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, and potentially the most powerful storm ever to directly impact Jamaica.

The storm's slow westward movement, at approximately 3 to 5 mph, is a significant concern, as it increases the duration of exposure to torrential rainfall and destructive winds, amplifying the potential for devastation. Forecasters predict Melissa will make landfall in Jamaica between Monday night and Tuesday, before proceeding across southeastern Cuba and the Bahamas through Wednesday.

Deadly Impact in Haiti and Dominican Republic

Before reaching its peak intensity, Melissa, then a tropical storm and later a major hurricane, had already caused significant damage and loss of life across Hispaniola. At least three fatalities have been reported in Haiti, with one additional death in the Dominican Republic. In Haiti, a man died after a tree fell in Marigot, and two others were killed in a landslide near Port-au-Prince. The storm's heavy rains have also led to:

• Widespread flash flooding and landslides in western Haiti.
• Destruction of crops in three regions, exacerbating food insecurity in a country where millions already face crisis-level hunger.
• Injuries to at least 15 people in Haiti due to a collapsing wall.

In the Dominican Republic, nearly 200 homes were damaged, and water supply systems for over half a million customers were disrupted. A 71-year-old man was swept away in a flooded glen, and a child remains missing.

Jamaica Braces for Catastrophic Conditions

Jamaica is now bracing for an 'unimaginable impact' as Hurricane Melissa approaches. The NHC has issued urgent warnings for catastrophic conditions, including:

• Torrential rainfall, with predictions of up to 30 inches across the island, and isolated areas potentially receiving as much as 40 inches.
• Life-threatening storm surge along the southern coast, potentially reaching 9 to 13 feet above ground level.
• Extensive infrastructural damage, prolonged power and communication outages, and the isolation of communities.
• High risk of widespread flash flooding and destructive landslides, particularly in mountainous regions.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has urged residents to take the threat seriously and seek shelter immediately. Both of Jamaica's main airports, Norman Manley International Airport and Sangster International Airport, have been closed, and evacuations have been ordered in flood-prone areas like Old Harbour Bay. Officials are activating over 650 shelters across the island.

Historical Significance and Preparedness

Meteorologists, including CBS News Philadelphia meteorologist Grant Gilmore, have stated that Melissa is expected to be the most powerful storm to ever hit Jamaica. This surpasses previous devastating hurricanes such as Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 and Hurricane Beryl in 2024. The slow pace of the storm is expected to cause 'profound' devastation, as it will linger over the island for an extended period.

As the Caribbean region faces this unprecedented threat, international observers anticipate a significant humanitarian crisis, requiring substantial global support for recovery efforts.