Melissa Edging Towards Category 5; Likely 2B Worst Hurricane Ever To Hit Jamaica w. 1 Meter Or More Of Rain Possible
The Caribbean is bracing for Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful to ever strike the region. Melissa began as a cluster of thunderstorms off the coast of west Africa, which travelled west and developed into a depression, reaching tropical storm status to the north of Venezuela on 21 October. Rapid intensification over the weekend strengthened Melissa to category 4 as it slowly meandered west through the Caribbean Sea.
Melissa is expected to reach category 5 intensity on Monday night, veering north-east towards Jamaica before making landfall on Tuesday by about midday, with peak winds of 160mph (257km/h), which would make it the strongest of only five hurricanes ever recorded to hit Jamaica directly. The most recent, and before now the most powerful, was Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, which brought gusts of 130mph.
Melissa’s notably slow traversal – averaging barely 5mph in recent days – will exacerbate the impact, with extremely high rainfall along its path. Totals of 200-400mm are likely across Jamaica by Tuesday evening, rising to 1,000mm in places. Similar amounts are expected in south-eastern Cuba from late Tuesday and into Wednesday. In comparison, London and Paris receive about 650mm in a year, while Kingston in Jamaica averages just over 800mm.
The US National Hurricane Center has warned of “extensive infrastructure damage, long-duration power and communication outages and isolation of communities” in Jamaica and nearby islands, with the potential for life-threatening flash flooding, storm surges and landslides.
EDIT
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/27/jamaica-powerful-hurricane-melissa-category-5-landfall-new-zealand-storm