Powerful Hurricane Melissa Slams Jamaica and Cuba, Leaving Widespread Damage

On October 29, 2025, Hurricane Melissa, a powerful Category 5 storm, made landfall in Jamaica, bringing devastating winds, flooding, and destruction to the island nation. The hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph, struck the island's southern coast near the town of New Hope, causing significant damage.

In the aftermath, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the country a "disaster area," with reports of widespread flooding, structural damage, blocked roads, and power outages throughout the island. The remnants of Melissa are expected to bring an additional 3 to 6 inches of rain to Jamaica today, further exacerbating the situation.

After its devastating impact on Jamaica, Melissa moved across eastern Cuba early on October 30, 2025, making landfall as a Category 3 hurricane. The storm is expected to bring life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding, with numerous landslides, to the region. Melissa has already been blamed for at least seven deaths in the Caribbean, with three people killed in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic over the weekend. In Jamaica, officials reported at least three fatalities prior to the hurricane's arrival.

As Melissa continues to move across the southwestern Atlantic, the National Hurricane Center has warned that the storm will soon emerge into the open waters, potentially posing a threat to other areas in the region.