Meteorologist Stunned by Hurricane Melissa's Record-Breaking Strength

On October 29, 2025, a meteorologist was left visibly shaken as he reported on the catastrophic power of Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. John Morales, a hurricane specialist, was providing an update on the storm's conditions for South Florida's NBC6 when he learned that Melissa had reached maximum sustained winds of 180 mph and a central pressure of 896 millibars.

Morales, who had previously broken down on air while covering the devastating impact of Hurricane Milton, struggled to maintain his composure. "Oh my, Jesus Christ," he said, pausing to rub his forehead. "Okay, I'm going to hold it together here." Melissa had surpassed Milton's record, and Morales knew the destruction it would bring.

The Category 4 hurricane made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, with 185 mph winds, tying the record for the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record. Extensive damage was reported across the island, with at least one confirmed death after a tree fell on an infant. Hospitals, homes, businesses, and roads were all severely impacted, and more than 530,000 Jamaicans were left without power.

After ravaging Jamaica, Melissa made landfall in eastern Cuba as a Category 3 storm, forcing over 735,000 residents to evacuate their homes. The hurricane is expected to continue its destructive path, moving over the Bahamas and potentially impacting Bermuda in the coming days.