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Catastrophic Hurricane Melissa Batters Jamaica, Threatens Cuba and Bahamas
28 Oct
Summary
- Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, makes landfall in Jamaica
- Storm brings 180 mph winds, up to 30 inches of rain, and 13-foot storm surge
- Melissa expected to impact Cuba and the Bahamas as a major hurricane
On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa, an extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane, made landfall in Jamaica. The storm, which has maximum sustained wind speeds of 180 mph, is the strongest hurricane to ever hit the island nation.
Melissa has already claimed at least seven lives in the Caribbean and is continuing to strengthen as it moves across Jamaica. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned that the storm will bring up to 30 inches of rain and a devastating storm surge of up to 13 feet, which will devastate the island's infrastructure.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has stated that there is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5 hurricane, and the focus now is on the speed of recovery. After moving through Jamaica, Melissa is expected to make landfall in southeastern Cuba during the overnight hours into Wednesday morning, still as a major hurricane.
The storm will then continue its northeastward path, tracking across the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday. Melissa is anticipated to retain hurricane strength as it moves through the Bahamas and toward Bermuda on Thursday.
