Hurricane Melissa: Jamaica on High Alert as Catastrophic Storm Approaches

Tue Oct 28 2025 18:19:07 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Hurricane Melissa is set to impact Jamaica with record-breaking winds and heavy rainfall, leading to widespread evacuations and safety measures across the island.

As Hurricane Melissa approaches, Jamaica braces for potentially catastrophic impacts from this category five storm. With winds reaching 160mph and expected rainfall of up to 40 inches, authorities have ordered evacuations and opened numerous shelters to safeguard residents. Following its destructive path, this storm has already claimed lives in Hispaniola. The Jamaican government has classified the entire island as 'threatened' and is mobilizing resources to ensure public safety.

People in Jamaica are bracing for the impact of Hurricane Melissa, which is forecast to unleash destructive winds and bring catastrophic flooding to the Caribbean nation in the coming hours.

Melissa was upgraded to a category five hurricane - the maximum strength - early on Monday, according to the US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The authorities fear that Melissa, which has already been blamed for the deaths of four people on the island of Hispaniola, could become the strongest hurricane ever to hit Jamaica.

The Jamaican government has ordered evacuations for parts of the capital, Kingston, and the entire island has been classed as 'threatened'. An update from the NHC stated that Melissa was about 130 miles south-southwest of Kingston.

With maximum sustained wind speeds of 160mph, forecasters warn that this storm could strengthen further in the next 12 to 24 hours. If it continues on its current track, Melissa is expected to make landfall over Jamaica, followed by Cuba and the Bahamas.

Authorities are urging residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas to seek shelter. All of Jamaica's 881 shelters are open, with the government mobilizing resources to ensure the safety of its citizens. Destructive winds and life-threatening storm surges are predicted to impact Jamaica overnight or early on Tuesday.