Melissa strengthens to a Class 5 hurricane because it nears Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Hurricane Melissa intensified to Class 5 power Monday because it neared Jamaica with as much as 30 inches (76 centimeters) of rain and a life-threatening storm surge.

Melissa is forecast to make landfall on the island Tuesday and cross Cuba and the Bahamas by means of Wednesday.

Melissa was centered about 130 miles (205 kilometers) south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 315 miles (505 kilometers) south-southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba, the U.S. Nationwide Hurricane Middle in Miami stated.

The hurricane had most sustained winds of 160 mph (260 kph) and was transferring west at 3 mph (6 kph), the middle stated.

Class 5 is the best on the Saffir-Simpson scale with sustained winds exceeding 157 mph (250 kph). Melissa is the strongest hurricane in current historical past to immediately hit the small Caribbean nation.

Some native areas of japanese Jamaica may get 40 inches (1 meter) of rain whereas western Haiti may get 16 inches (40 centimeters), in keeping with hurricane heart. “Catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides are likely,” it warned.

The slow-moving storm has killed at the least three individuals in Haiti and a fourth individual within the Dominican Republic, the place one other individual stays lacking.

“I want to urge Jamaicans to take this seriously,” stated Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of Jamaica’s Catastrophe Threat Administration Council. “Do not gamble with Melissa. It’s not a safe bet.”

The hurricane was anticipated to make one other landfall later Tuesday in japanese Cuba. A hurricane warning was in impact for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and Holguin provinces, whereas a tropical storm warning was in impact for Las Tunas. As much as 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain have been forecast for elements of Cuba, together with a big storm surge alongside the coast.

Staff board up store home windows forward of Hurricane Melissa’s forecast arrival in Kingston, Jamaica, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025.

Matias Delacroix/AP

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Matias Delacroix/AP

A document storm for Jamaica

Melissa could possibly be the strongest hurricane Jamaica has skilled in a long time, stated Evan Thompson, principal director at Jamaica’s meteorological service. He warned that cleanup and harm evaluation could be severely delayed due to anticipated landslides, flooding and blocked roads.

Along with the rainfall, Melissa is more likely to trigger a life-threatening storm surge on Jamaica’s southern coast, peaking round 13 toes (4 meters) above floor stage, close to and to the east of the place the middle of Melissa makes landfall, the U.S. heart stated.

“Don’t make foolish decisions,” warned Daryl Vaz, Jamaica’s transport minister. “We are in a very, very serious time over the next few days.”

A success on Hispaniola

The storm already has dropped heavy rain within the Dominican Republic, the place colleges and authorities places of work have been ordered to stay closed on Monday in 4 of 9 provinces nonetheless beneath pink alert.

Melissa broken greater than 750 properties throughout the nation, displacing greater than 3,760 individuals. Floodwaters even have lower entry to at the least 48 communities, officers stated.

In neighboring Haiti, the storm destroyed crops in three areas, together with 15 hectares (37 acres) of maize at a time when at the least 5.7 million individuals, greater than half of the nation’s inhabitants, is experiencing disaster ranges of starvation, with 1.9 million of these going through emergency ranges of starvation.

“Flooding is obstructing access to farmland and markets, jeopardizing harvests and the winter agricultural season,” the U.N.’s Meals and Agriculture Group stated.

Melissa was anticipated to maintain dumping torrential rain over southern Haiti and the southern Dominican Republic in upcoming days.