On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa, a historic Category 5 storm, made landfall in Jamaica with sustained winds reaching 185 mph, marking one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded. The National Hurricane Center confirmed the storm’s intensity, issuing urgent warnings of catastrophic winds, life-threatening storm surges, and severe flooding. The United Nations described Melissa as “the storm of the century,” emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the disaster for Jamaica, which had never before faced a direct hit from a Category 5 hurricane.
Tragically, at least seven hurricane-related fatalities have been reported across the Caribbean, including three in Jamaica during storm preparations, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. In Haiti, thousands of individuals already displaced by gang violence are now confronting flooded makeshift shelters, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
As Melissa continues its destructive path, Cuba is next in line to face the storm’s wrath, with severe weather conditions expected to impact the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Bahamian authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders for residents in low-lying areas, cautioning that emergency assistance will be unavailable until the storm passes. The Disaster Risk Management Authority warned of imminent hurricane conditions, including dangerous storm surges and torrential rainfall, expected to hit the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos by Wednesday.
The Caribbean region braces for further devastation as Hurricane Melissa underscores the escalating threat of extreme weather events in the era of climate change.