Jamaica on High Alert as Hurricane Melissa Nears Category 5 Intensity
Catastrophic flooding, landslides expected as Melissa approaches.
Hurricane Melissa, a formidable Category 4 storm with winds reaching 145 miles per hour, is intensifying as it approaches Jamaica and other Caribbean regions, with the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasting a potential upgrade to a Category 5 storm by October 27, 2025. The slow-moving hurricane, traveling at just five miles per hour, is expected to unleash up to 40 inches of rainfall, triggering catastrophic flooding and landslides across Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. Authorities have issued urgent calls for residents to seek shelter, with mandatory evacuations ordered in Jamaica’s coastal areas.
The storm has already claimed four lives in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, including a 79-year-old man swept away in a stream and three others killed in storm-related incidents. In the Dominican Republic, a 13-year-old boy remains missing. The NHC warns that Melissa’s sluggish pace will prolong dangerous conditions, with a storm surge of up to 13 feet expected along Jamaica’s southern coast. “Conditions will deteriorate rapidly in the next few hours,” said NHC Deputy Director Jamie Rhome, urging residents to stay indoors.
In Jamaica, preparations are intensifying as the storm’s impact is feared to rival or surpass Hurricane Gilbert of 1988, which killed over 40 people on the island. Kingston’s international airport and all seaports closed on October 26, and storm shelters have been activated nationwide. Government official Desmond McKenzie pleaded with residents to heed warnings, stating, “You cannot bet against Melissa.” Residents like Winston Moxam, bracing for potential devastation, expressed concerns about losing homes and livelihoods.
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The Dominican Republic has placed nine provinces on red alert due to risks of flash floods and landslides, while Haiti continues to report severe impacts from the storm’s outer bands. Angelita Francisco, a 66-year-old Dominican resident, described fleeing her flooded home, where belongings like her refrigerator were swept away. After hitting Jamaica late Monday or early Tuesday, Melissa is expected to move north, affecting eastern Cuba while continuing to bring heavy rains to Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
As the 13th named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, Melissa follows the destructive path of Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, which left four dead in Jamaica. With landfall looming, the region faces a critical test of preparedness, as authorities and residents race to mitigate the impact of this potentially catastrophic storm.
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