What is the current status of Hurricane Melissa?

Hurricane Melissa has devastated Jamaica and is now heading towards Cuba, where it is expected to make landfall as an "extremely dangerous major hurricane" in the next few hours.

How did Hurricane Melissa impact Jamaica?

Hurricane Melissa was one of the most powerful storms on record to hit Jamaica, causing widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and the country's agricultural heartland. The Jamaican government has declared the island a "disaster area."

What is the role of climate change in the intensification of Hurricane Melissa?

Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and destructive potential of hurricanes like Melissa to the effects of human-driven climate change, which is making the worst aspects of these storms even worse.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Powerful Hurricane Melissa Devastates Jamaica, Heads for Cuba

Powerful Hurricane Melissa Devastates Jamaica, Heads for Cuba

29 Oct

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Summary

Melissa one of the most powerful hurricanes on record in Jamaica
Extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, and agriculture reported
Storm expected to make landfall in Cuba as an "extremely dangerous major hurricane"

Powerful Hurricane Melissa Devastates Jamaica, Heads for Cuba

On October 29, 2025, Hurricane Melissa, a powerful Category 4 storm, bore down on Cuba after ripping a path of destruction through Jamaica. The hurricane was one of the most powerful on record to hit the island nation, packing ferocious sustained winds of 185 miles per hour.

Melissa's passage over Jamaica was slow and brutal, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Homes were destroyed, infrastructure was severely damaged, and the country's agricultural heartland, the Saint Elizabeth region, was left "underwater." The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but the Jamaican government has already declared the island a "disaster area."

As Melissa approaches eastern Cuba, the National Hurricane Center warns that the storm is "re-strengthening" and is expected to make landfall as an "extremely dangerous major hurricane" in the next few hours. The hurricane is also forecast to impact the Bahamas and Bermuda in the coming days.