Hurricane Melissa live updates: Jamaica braces for Category 5 storm with ‘catastrophic and life-threatening’ winds and flooding
The hurricane — with 175 mph winds — is expected to be the strongest ever to hit the island, forecasters say.
Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a Category 5 storm overnight and is expected to bring “catastrophic and life-threatening winds, flooding and storm surge” to Jamaica, forecasters say.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm — with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph and higher gusts — is expected to make landfall on Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 4 or Category 5 hurricane, which would be the strongest on record.
“Catastrophic and life-threatening winds, flooding and storm surge are likely,” the hurricane center warned. “Destructive winds, especially in the mountains, will begin by this evening, leading to extensive infrastructural damage, long-lasting power and communication outages, and isolated communities.”
Local officials have advised everyone on the island to shelter in place. They also expressed concerns about the potential for widespread destruction in any area within the storm’s path.
“There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5,” Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said on Wednesday.
After passing over Jamaica, Melissa will likely move across southeastern Cuba and the parts of the Bahamas. Hurricane warnings are in effect for both nations. The storm is not expected to affect the U.S. mainland.
Follow our live blog below for the latest on the storm, its path and its impacts.
Hurricane Melissa is now the strongest storm on the planet this year
Hurricane Melissa, world’s strongest storm of 2025, closes in on Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa strengthened into the world’s most powerful storm of 2025 as the Category 5 behemoth closed in on Jamaica Monday, ahead of its expected landfall in the Caribbean island nation.
The big picture: The storm’s impacts were already being felt in Jamaica, as forecasters warned of “catastrophic and life-threatening” winds, flooding and storm surge on Monday night, which Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness said on Facebook would like likely impact all of the country.
Stunning stat: Category 5 is the highest of storm categories and to meet this criteria, winds must measure at 157 mph or higher.
- Melissa’s winds have been much higher than that throughout Monday and the storm had maximum sustained winds of near 175 mph, with higher gusts, as of 8pm Monday ET, per the National Hurricane Center’s latest forecast discussion.
Situation report: The hurricane was moving in a northwesterly direction at just 2 mph about 155 miles southwest of Kingston, Jamaica.
- It’s expected to make landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday morning.
Between the lines: The storm’s rapid intensification reflects how warmer ocean temperatures are fueling stronger late-season hurricanes, according to Jim Chen, a professor of marine and environmental sciences at Northwestern University.
- “When a hurricane moves slowly, it dumps a tremendous amount of rain in that particular area. In Jamaica, that means we’ll likely see rain-induced flooding and landslides,” Chen said in a Thursday evening email.
- “The slow movement also means strong winds continue blowing over buildings and structures for a long time, causing greater damage,” he added.
- “Widespread damages to the infrastructure, such as the international airport and ports along the Jamaica’s southern coast, by the storm surge and ocean waves are expected.”
Flashback: Chen noted that Hurricane Harvey released “enormous rainfall that led to widespread inland flooding exacerbated by storm surge” in 2017.
- Rainfall from this storm that struck the Houston area was at least 15% heavier due to human caused climate change, a study found.
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