Hurricane Melissa Unleashes Catastrophic Fury on Jamaica as Category 5 Storm

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a catastrophic Category 5 storm on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, bringing devastating 185 mph winds, flash flooding, and landslides. The capital, Kingston, was largely empty as residents and officials braced for widespread devastation, according to reports from vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com. This event marks Melissa as the strongest hurricane to ever hit Jamaica in recorded history.

cbsnews.com reported, The storm unleashed life-threatening winds, a devastating storm surge, and torrential rainfall across the island, with the National Hurricane Center warning of catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) tropical cyclone specialist Anne-Claire Fontan stated that Melissa was expected to bring three times the normal amount of precipitation for a rainy month in Jamaica.

Jamaican authorities had issued mandatory evacuation orders for several south coast communities, including Port Royal in Kingston, to move people from high-risk areas. Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness emphasized the government's extensive preparedness efforts, acknowledging that "no infrastructure in the region can withstand a Category 5" storm.

northeastern.edu noted, Early reports indicated widespread power outages, with over 530,000 Jamaicans without electricity by Tuesday evening, as confirmed by Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie. Critical infrastructure has been severely compromised, and sections of Black River Hospital in the southwest also sustained significant damage.

Regional and international organizations, including the United Nations and the Red Cross, rapidly mobilized aid and pre-positioned supplies in anticipation of a major humanitarian crisis. The World Food Programme (WFP) coordinated a sea-lift operation from Barbados, carrying essential supplies from various UN agencies to support affected communities.

1news.co.nz reported, Melissa's unusually slow movement, at seven to nine miles per hour, meant that its destructive winds had more time to cause damage, and the storm was expected to linger over the island for an extended period. This slow progression also intensified rainfall, leading to prolonged flash flooding and landslides, as noted by Northeastern professor Qin Jim Chen.

• Background Context and Historical Perspective: Hurricane Melissa stands as the strongest hurricane to impact Jamaica since record-keeping began in 1851, surpassing even the devastation caused by Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season has been notable for its intensity, with Melissa being identified as the third Category 5 storm, its explosive development fueled by unusually warm Caribbean waters, according to the National Hurricane Center.

• cbsnews.com noted, Key Stakeholders and Their Positions/Interests: The Jamaican government, led by Prime Minister Andrew Holness and agencies like the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), prioritized saving lives and coordinating the national response. International bodies such as the UN, International Organization for Migration (IOM), World Food Programme (WFP), and the Red Cross are actively providing humanitarian aid, supporting preparedness, and planning for long-term recovery efforts.

• Economic Implications: Analysts are predicting billions of dollars in economic losses for Jamaica, given the severe impact on its vital tourism-driven economy and agricultural sector. Data from the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) previously indicated that hurricane damages could reach up to 56% of the GDP by 2025, underscoring the island's extreme economic vulnerability to such catastrophic events.

• northeastern.edu reported, Social Impact and Evacuation Challenges: The storm is projected to affect approximately 1.5 million people across Jamaica, with thousands likely to be displaced and facing significant disruptions to essential services. Despite mandatory evacuation orders, some residents in flood-prone areas, particularly in communities like Port Royal, expressed reluctance to leave their homes due citing concerns over the safety of their belongings and conditions in shelters, as reported by Hindustan Times.

• Preparedness Measures and Government Response: Under the leadership of Prime Minister Holness, the Jamaican government implemented extensive preparedness measures, which included issuing mandatory evacuations, closing airports, and strategically pre-positioning emergency supplies. Minister of Water and Environment Matthew Samuda urged citizens to store clean water, as power outages affected nearly 50,000 people even before the storm's full impact.

• 1news.co.nz noted, International Aid and Coordination: The international community responded swiftly, with the UN launching a sea-lift operation from Barbados to deliver critical aid, including food, hygiene kits, and medical supplies. Direct Relief, a humanitarian aid organization, committed an initial $250,000 in emergency funding and dispatched medical supplies to Jamaica's Ministry of Health and Wellness.

• Climate Change Context: Experts, including Northeastern professor Qin Jim Chen, have linked the exceptional intensity of Hurricane Melissa to warming ocean temperatures, noting that the sea over which Melissa formed was 1.4% warmer than average. This connection highlights the increasing influence of climate change on hurricane severity and the urgent need for enhanced resilience strategies in vulnerable regions.

• cbsnews.com reported, Future Developments and Recovery: The immediate focus for Jamaica has shifted to critical search and rescue operations, comprehensive damage assessment, and providing urgent humanitarian relief to affected populations. Prime Minister Holness acknowledged the profound financial impact and the immense challenge of achieving a swift recovery, indicating that long-term reconstruction efforts are expected to be extensive and demanding.