Hurricane Melissa has unleashed catastrophic damage across Jamaica and is now barreling toward Cuba, prompting mass evacuations and emergency preparations.
October 29, 2025: One of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, packing winds up to 185 mph (295 kph) and a central pressure of 892 millibars. The storm tied records with the 1935 Labor Day hurricane and 2019’s Hurricane Dorian, marking it as one of the strongest in history.
Hurricane Melissa: Infrastructure Crumbles, Power Fails: Jamaica’s Struggle Post-Landfall
Jamaica has been left reeling, with widespread destruction reported across infrastructure, hospitals, and homes. Prime Minister Andrew Holness described the devastation as unprecedented, with thousands displaced and major hospitals damaged. Over 540,000 residents, nearly 77% of the island, lost power, and emergency services are struggling to reach isolated communities due to blocked roads and flooding.
As Melissa moves north-northeast, Cuba braces for impact, with more than 735,000 people evacuated from vulnerable regions. Coastal provinces like Santiago de Cuba and Holguín are on high alert, with storm surges expected to reach 8 to 12 feet, and rainfall totals projected between 10 to 25 inches, raising fears of flash floods and landslides.
Meteorologists are stunned by Melissa’s rapid intensification, which saw the storm strengthen by 70 mph in just 24 hours. Experts attribute this explosive growth to abnormally warm ocean waters, which were 2°C above average, a phenomenon linked to climate change. Scientists warn that such conditions are making superstorms like Melissa 500 to 700 times more likely.
Across the Caribbean, seven deaths have been confirmed, including three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. Relief agencies are mobilizing food, medicine, and supplies, but access remains limited due to ongoing weather threats.
Families abroad, especially in the UK and US, are anxiously awaiting updates from loved ones in Jamaica, where communication lines remain down. The emotional toll is mounting as many remain unreachable days after the storm’s landfall.
