Hurricane Melissa Becomes Earth’s Strongest Storm of 2025 — Jamaica Faces Direct Hit
Written by b87fm on 10/27/2025
Palm trees sway in the wind in Port Royal, Jamaica, on Monday.
Updated October 27, 2025 — By B87 Newsroom
Hurricane Melissa has exploded into a Category 5 monster, now officially the strongest storm on the planet this year. With 175 mph winds and higher gusts, it’s set to unleash catastrophic destruction as it bears down on Jamaica.
Satellite imagery captures Hurricane Melissa on Monday afternoon.
The National Hurricane Center warns of up to 40 inches of rain, 13 feet of storm surge, and 160 mph sustained winds — enough to level homes, cut off entire communities, and cause long-term blackouts.
Lightning flashes within the powerful eye wall of Hurricane Melissa.
Incredible imagery this morning of Melissa, a Category 5 storm, south of Jamaica. pic.twitter.com/AeFva33fie
— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) October 27, 2025
Evacuations are underway across coastal Jamaica, where government ministers call the orders “a directive to save your life.” More than 800 shelters are open, but officials worry many residents are refusing to leave.
Streets are quiet in Kingston, Jamaica, on October 27, before the arrival of Hurricane Melissa.
Kingston and southern parishes are already feeling tropical-storm-force winds, with the worst expected after midnight. Melissa is moving north at a crawl — about 3 mph — which means devastating rain and flooding could linger for days.
Workers board up shop windows in Kingston, Jamaica, on October 26.
The storm’s approach from the south is especially dangerous, driving walls of water into low-lying areas like Kingston Harbour and the Norman Manley International Airport, both barely above sea level.
An aerial view shows waves crashing into the seawall that protects Palisadoes Strip, the route to Norman Manley International Airport, before the arrival of Hurricane Melissa, in Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday.
The UN is preparing to deploy emergency teams to Jamaica and Cuba, while NOAA hurricane hunters are flying dangerous missions through the storm — even without pay due to the U.S. government shutdown. One flight was forced to turn back after violent turbulence damaged the plane.
Despite the chaos, there’s one small mercy: Melissa won’t reach the U.S. A cold front along the East Coast is steering it away, though rough seas and rip currents will be felt by midweek.
A person looks out at the sea as Hurricane Melissa approaches in Port Royal, Jamaica, October 27.
Melissa now joins an infamous list of history’s most powerful hurricanes — behind only storms like Gilbert (1988) and Allen (1980) — both legendary in Jamaica’s weather history.
Fishermen move a boat to higher ground, in preparation of Hurricane Melissa, in Port Royal, Jamaica, Sunday.
Officials say it plainly: “The time for preparation is over. Now is the time to listen and survive.”
See what’s happening in Jamaica’s busiest transport ventre 24/7 below:
