Jamaica is battling widespread devastation after Hurricane Melissa, a powerful Category 5 storm, made landfall late Monday night, unleashing catastrophic winds, flash floods, and massive storm surges along the island’s southern coast.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported sustained winds nearing 175 mph (280 km/h) as the storm’s eye crossed near St Elizabeth parish before inching northward at barely 3 mph, prolonging the destruction across the island. Officials have described the impact as one of the worst in recent memory.
At least seven people have been killed across the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica, as Melissa intensified into the strongest hurricane of 2025. Entire communities have been cut off by flooded roads, toppled trees, and power outages, while thousands have sought safety in emergency shelters. Authorities have warned of life-threatening storm surges up to 13 feet (4 meters) and rainfall exceeding 30 inches (76 centimeters) in several parts of southern and central Jamaica.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness described the storm as “a national emergency of historic scale,” urging citizens to stay indoors until rescue teams arrive. Emergency workers are struggling to reach stranded residents as hospitals, power grids, and communication networks face widespread disruption.
Meteorologists say Melissa’s rapid intensification underscores the growing threat of climate-fueled superstorms. Sea-surface temperatures in the Atlantic are reportedly 2–3 °C warmer than average, fueling the storm’s explosive power. Experts warn that such events, where a storm’s strength increases dramatically in a short span, are becoming more frequent due to global warming.
Melissa is forecast to retain major hurricane strength as it moves northwest toward Cuba and the Bahamas on Tuesday. The NHC cautioned that flooding and landslides could worsen as the slow-moving system lingers over Jamaica.
