Home / Disasters and Accidents / Unprecedented Category 5 Hurricane Melissa Devastates Caribbean
Unprecedented Category 5 Hurricane Melissa Devastates Caribbean
4 Nov
Summary
- Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a powerful Category 5 hurricane
- Storm caused $48-52 billion in damage and economic loss across the region
- Thousands of homes damaged, entire communities flattened in affected areas
On November 1st, 2025, a powerful Category 5 hurricane named Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica, becoming the Caribbean nation's strongest-ever storm to directly hit its shores. The hurricane, which had wind speeds of up to 185 mph, went on to tear a path through Cuba, the Bahamas, and Bermuda before moving off to the north on November 4th.
The storm has been described as unprecedented by government officials and meteorologists, who attribute its rapid intensification to exceptionally warm sea-surface temperatures and favorable atmospheric conditions. The rarity of a storm of such severity, combined with the scale of the damage inflicted on the affected land, has ensured that Melissa will go down in history as one of the most devastating hurricanes on record.
As of November 4th, the death toll from Melissa stands at 67, with the Jamaican prime minister stating that the "scale of destruction is unlike anything we have seen in decades." Entire communities along the storm's path were flattened, and the once-green Cockpit Country now bears a haunting, winter-like appearance. The total population of all the affected islands is estimated to be at least 25 million people, and the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility has announced a record payout of $70.8 million to Jamaica.
