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9h ago

Record Category 5 Hurricane Melissa Slams Jamaica, Knocking Out Power for Over Half a Million

Forecasters warn of life‑threatening surge and catastrophic flooding as the core tracks toward eastern Cuba and the Bahamas.

IN SPACE, CARIBBEAN SEA - OCTOBER 28: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This Handout image was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images' editorial policy.) In this handout satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Hurricane Melissa churns through the Caribbean Sea, captured at 15:20Z on October 28, 2025. Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a Category 5 storm as it approaches Jamaica, bringing torrential winds and rain, according to the National Hurricane Center. (Photo by NOAA via Getty Images)
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A man walks along the coastline in Kingston, Jamaica, as Hurricane Melissa approaches (Photo: Matias Delacroix/AP)

Overview

  • Melissa made landfall near New Hope in southwestern Jamaica around 1 p.m. local time with estimated sustained winds near 185 mph, the strongest storm on record for the island.
  • The National Hurricane Center warned of storm surge peaking 9 to 13 feet on Jamaica’s south coast, 15 to 30 inches of rain with local maxima near 40 inches, flash flooding and widespread landslides.
  • More than 530,000 customers lost electricity by Tuesday evening and roughly 15,000 people were in shelters, according to Jamaican officials and multiple outlets.
  • At least seven deaths were reported across the Caribbean tied to the storm and preparations, including three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic.
  • The forecast track carries the center across Jamaica, into eastern Cuba by Wednesday morning and into the southeastern or central Bahamas later Wednesday, as Cuba reports large‑scale evacuations and regional partners pledge assistance, with Starlink offering free service for affected users.