Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa was an extremely powerful tropical cyclone that struck Jamaica in late October 2025. It was one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic, with winds reaching 190 mph (305 km/h). This made it just as strong as other famous hurricanes like Hurricane Allen and Hurricane Dorian.

Melissa began as a tropical wave off the coast of West Africa on October 13. It moved across the Atlantic and became a storm on October 21. Over the next few days, it grew much stronger and became a huge hurricane before hitting land near New Hope, Jamaica, on October 28.

The hurricane caused terrible damage in Jamaica, destroying many buildings and flooding towns. Heavy rains from its outer edges also caused dangerous flooding and landslides in nearby Hispaniola. In total, 95 people sadly lost their lives because of the storm. Because of the severe impact, the name Melissa was retired and will never be used again for a hurricane.

Meteorological history

Melissa started as a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa on October 13. By October 19, it passed through the Windward Islands and into the Caribbean Sea. It became Tropical Storm Melissa on October 21. The storm moved slowly because of weak steering currents.

By October 25, conditions became very favorable for the storm, and Melissa began to strengthen quickly. It became a hurricane that afternoon, with its winds nearly doubling in just one day. Melissa reached Category 5 status early on October 27, with winds of 180 mph. It reached its strongest point on October 28 with winds of 190 mph.

Melissa made landfall near New Hope in Jamaica on October 28, just below its strongest strength. The storm weakened over Jamaica’s mountains but re-emerged into the Caribbean as a Category 3 storm. It later moved toward Cuba, making landfall there on October 29, and then continued toward the Bahamas and Bermuda before weakening and dissipating on November 1.

Records and distinctions

• The strongest tropical cyclone of 2025 worldwide.
• Tied with Hurricane Allen as the most intense Atlantic hurricane by wind speed.
• Tied with the 1935 Labor Day hurricane and Hurricane Dorian as the strongest storm to make landfall in the Atlantic by wind speed.
• The strongest tropical cyclone ever to hit Jamaica.

Effect of climate change

Further information: Tropical cyclones and climate change

Melissa strengthened quickly over waters that were unusually warm because of human-caused climate change. Studies suggest these warm conditions were 500–900 times more likely because of climate change. Climate change also likely made the storm’s winds about 10 mph stronger and increased its rainfall by up to 10%.

Preparations

Greater Antilles

On October 21, a hurricane watch was issued for southern parts of Haiti, and a tropical storm watch was issued for Jamaica. Jamaica's watch was upgraded to a hurricane watch and warning on October 23. The next day, it became a hurricane warning. A tropical storm warning was added for southern Haiti on October 23.

Many ships changed their routes to avoid the storm. The Margaritaville at Sea Islander rerouted from Grand Cayman and Jamaica to Belize and Honduras. The Disney Treasure was rerouted from Tortola and Saint Thomas to Cozumel, and Disney Wish changed its schedule at Castaway Cay. Celebrity Beyond and Icon of the Seas moved to a western Caribbean route. Carnival Celebration and Carnival Vista skipped stops in the Dominican Republic. Carnival Dream and Carnival Liberty cancelled stops in Montego Bay, and Liberty also cancelled a stop in the Cayman Islands. Airlines cancelled 167 flights in airports from the Greater Antilles and nearby regions such as the Bahamas, Barbados, Haiti, Jamaica, and the US Virgin Islands.

The U.S. National Weather Service in Puerto Rico issued a flood warning for several areas due to heavy rains from the storm's outer bands on October 22.

In the Dominican Republic, four shelters opened in San Juan de la Maguana, San Cristóbal, and the National District, and 61 people sought shelter. Twelve provinces were placed under red alert. About 90 people evacuated from Saona Island.

The Government of the Cayman Islands gave out sandbags for citizens. Cayman Airways waived change-of-flight fees because of the storm. All touristic diving operations stopped on Little Cayman and Cayman Brac on October 24.

In Cuba, hurricane warnings were issued for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguín, and Las Tunas, while a tropical storm warning was issued for Camagüey Province. About 735,000 people were evacuated in eastern Cuba. The United States Navy also evacuated several hundred people, including non-mission-essential U.S. citizens, from Guantanamo Bay Naval Base to Florida.

Jamaica

The Ministry of Transportation in Jamaica sent 30 buses for emergencies in Portmore, Spanish Town, Rockfort, and Montego Bay. On October 25, all airports closed. By October 27, regular bus services were stopped. The National Water Commission got teams and equipment ready. The University of the West Indies told students to leave Mona, and graduation ceremonies were postponed. Sandy Gully in Saint Andrew was cleared as the storm came closer. On October 24, public places like the National Gallery of Jamaica and the Bob Marley Museum closed. Shelters opened in many places, and by October 27, 1,700 people had left their homes. Some shelters closed before people could get there, and some people were confused about where to go.

Elsewhere

On October 17, a yellow weather alert was issued for Trinidad and Tobago as the storm approached. On October 18, a yellow alert was also issued in Martinique. The same day, a flash flood warning was issued in Barbados. In Curaçao, the Prime Minister closed schools to help emergency services. Colombia issued yellow alerts along its Atlantic coast for rough seas.

Hurricane warnings were issued for central and southwest Bahamas, and a tropical storm warning for the Turks and Caicos Islands. Evacuation orders were given for Acklins, Crooked Island, Inagua, Long Cay, Mayaguana, and Ragged Island. Almost 1,500 people left before the storm. People on the southern part of Long Island were taken to a community center. The British Ministry of Defence sent eight people and the HMS Trent to the Turks and Caicos Islands to help with preparations. Some members of the Parliament of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands gave out food and sandbags. Generators were filled and tested, and two pump stations were turned on. Carnival Celebration, Carnival Sunrise, and Freedom of the Seas skipped stops in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

A hurricane warning was issued for Bermuda. The Causeway, buses, and L.F. Wade International Airport closed on the evening of October 30 and reopened on October 31. Several ferry routes closed on October 30, and all ferries closed the next day. Cedarbridge Academy opened as a shelter on October 30, and government offices closed that day.

Impact

After the storm, outbreaks of illnesses spread by mosquitoes happened, with reports of many people getting sick from these diseases.

Hispaniola

Hispaniola saw the most rain from Melissa, with parts of the Tiburon Peninsula getting over 35 inches of rain. In the Dominican Republic, many people lost water service, roads were damaged, and a few buildings fell down because of the rain. One man died after being swept away by a river.

In Haiti, many people were hurt or lost their homes. Flooding and landslides caused damage, and many buildings were destroyed.

Jamaica

Melissa was the strongest and most expensive hurricane to hit Jamaica, causing lots of damage. Many people lost power, and buildings and homes were destroyed. Flooding and strong winds caused severe damage across the island, especially in places like Saint Elizabeth and Westmoreland. Farms and forests were also badly hurt.

Cuba

Cuba had already been hit hard by earlier storms, and Melissa made things worse. Flooding and strong winds damaged homes, hospitals, and farms. Many people lost power and water, and some areas were still struggling weeks after the storm.

Lucayan Archipelago

In the Bahamas, strong winds knocked out power and damaged buildings. Some airports and roads were flooded or blocked by debris.

Elsewhere

Melissa brought strong winds and heavy rain to places like Barbados, Saint Lucia, and Puerto Rico, causing some damage. Rough seas affected the coast of Colombia and parts of Bermuda lost power.

Aftermath

The United States and Jamaican Air Forces worked together to bring supplies to communities in Jamaica that were hard to reach. The Jamaican National Housing Trust bought 5,000 container homes to help people rebuild their homes. The Prime Minister said that getting things there would take a lot of time. A pause on paying mortgages for six months was also announced for 20,000 homes. The Jamaican Government set aside J$10 million to help rebuild homes. Efforts were made to quickly restore power to the city of Montego Bay to help get tourism going again in hotels that were not damaged.

Many groups helped Jamaica recover. The Miami Heat and its partners gave around US$1 million in supplies. The Walt Disney Company gave US$1 million, and American Airlines raised more than US$1.2 million for the American Red Cross. Home Depot co-founder and Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank gave US$1.5 million to help provide food and water, and another US$1 million to help with on-the-ground efforts. The World Bank and the Jamaican government worked together to check the damage and also paid out US$150 million from a special fund set up for big disasters. The World Food Programme started giving food to 123,000 people in western Jamaica. Other countries like the Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and Bermuda also sent help and money.

In March 2026, the name Melissa was retired by the World Meteorological Organization because of the great damage it caused in the Caribbean, especially in Jamaica. The name Molly will be used instead, starting in the 2031 season.