• Tornado-like devastation stretches for miles in Black River after Hurricane Melissa’s historic landfall, Jamaica

    Hurricane Melissa made landfall near Black River, St Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica, at approximately 10:15 LT (15:15 UTC) on October 28, as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 295 km/h (185 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 915 hPa. This was the strongest hurricane to strike Jamaica on record, causing catastrophic damage…

  • Jamaica declared a disaster area after Hurricane Melissa leaves over half a million without power

    The historic landfall of Hurricane Melissa over Jamaica on October 28, 2025, has left behind a trail of destruction, prompting authorities to declare the island a disaster area on October 29. Over half a million people were left without power as Melissa ripped through the island. While some fatalities have been reported in Jamaica, official confirmation is yet to be made.

  • Catastrophic and life-threatening winds, flooding and storm surge forecast as Category 5 Hurricane Melissa nears Jamaica landfall

    Hurricane Melissa reached Category 5 strength on Monday, October 27, 2025, becoming the third Category 5 hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. On the forecast track, the center of Melissa will be near or over Jamaica late tonight or early Tuesday, cross eastern Cuba Tuesday night or early Wednesday, and then move near or over the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos on Wednesday. After that, the cyclone could reach the vicinity of Bermuda on Thursday night.

  • Category 4 Hurricane Melissa forecast to strike Jamaica with powerful winds, catastrophic flash flooding, and life-threatening storm surge

    Hurricane Melissa reached Category 4 strength on October 26, 2025, after causing three fatalities in Hispaniola earlier this week. The system could reach Category 5 strength by tonight, before making landfall in Jamaica late on October 27 or early on October 28, bringing rainfall totals of up to 1 000 mm (40 inches) by October 29.

  • Hurricane Watches issued for Jamaica and Haiti, heavy rains and life-threatening flooding forecast

    A Hurricane Watch was issued on October 23, 2025, as Tropical Storm Melissa approached Hispaniola and Jamaica, bringing the threat of heavy rainfall and life-threatening flooding. The storm is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane by the weekend and possibly a major hurricane early next week, producing heavy rain, flash flooding, and landslides across Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and parts of Cuba.