Posted on 10/27/2025 5:18:08 PM PDT by Red Badger
Officials have urged residents to stay indoors, avoid floodwaters and follow evacuation orders
HURRICANE Melissa has exploded into a monstrous category five storm and is now charging towards Jamaica.
The horror storm is threatening to unleash catastrophic flooding, deadly landslides and towering storm surges across the Caribbean.
The slow-moving hurricane roared across the warm waters of the Caribbean over the weekend, doubling in strength and becoming one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the region.
With winds now raging at 160 mph, Melissa was sitting about 130 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica, late Sunday and crawling westward at just 3 mph – a sluggish pace that could prove disastrous.
Forecasters warned the storm would make landfall early Tuesday, potentially as the most powerful hurricane to ever hit Jamaica.
Desmond McKenzie, minister of local government, said: “Many of these communities will not survive this flooding.
“Kingston is low, extremely low… No community in Kingston is immune from flooding.”
“Those in Jamaica need to seek shelter now,” the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) urged.
“Damaging winds and heavy rainfall today and on Monday will cause catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides before potentially devastating winds arrive Monday night and Tuesday morning.”
The island is bracing for the full force of Melissa’s triple threat – extreme rainfall, hurricane-force winds and surging seas.
Up to 30 inches (76 cm) of rain are expected across much of Jamaica, with eastern regions possibly drowning under 40 inches (1 metre), according to the NHC.
Storm surges of 9 to 13 feet could slam into Jamaica’s southern coast, particularly east of where the eye makes landfall, creating life-threatening coastal flooding.
“I want to urge Jamaicans to take this seriously,” said Desmond McKenzie, deputy chairman of the island’s Disaster Risk Management Council. “Do not gamble with Melissa. It’s not a safe bet.”
The government issued mandatory evacuation orders on Sunday evening for several vulnerable coastal communities, including parts of Kingston.
“There is nowhere that will escape the wrath of this hurricane,” warned Evan Thompson, principal director of Jamaica’s Meteorological Service.
“It’s going to sit there, pouring water while it’s barely moving – and that is a significant challenge… as long as what is predicted does take place.”
Prime Minister Andrew Holness echoed the warning, writing on X: “Now is the time to secure your home, check your roof, windows, and surroundings. Use sandbags or plywood where needed and clear any overhanging branches safely.
“If you live in a flood-prone area, take protective measures and have an evacuation plan ready.”
All public hospitals have been placed in emergency mode, halting outpatient and elective procedures to free up beds, Health Minister Christopher Tufton said.
Emergency shelters are now open nationwide for those in flood-prone or coastal zones, McKenzie added.
The country’s main airports have also shut down ahead of the storm.
Norman Manley International in Kingston closed Saturday night, while Sangster International in Montego Bay followed on Sunday, confirmed Transport Minister Daryl Vaz.
“Melissa could be the strongest hurricane Jamaica has experienced in decades,” said Evan Thompson.
He noted that Hurricane Gilbert hit the island as a Category 3 in 1988, while two more recent Category 4 storms – Ivan and Beryl – never made landfall.
That makes Melissa a historic threat – the first Category 4 or 5 hurricane to strike Jamaica in living memory.
The monster storm has already caused chaos on the island of Hispaniola, claiming three lives in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing.
In the Dominican Republic, schools and government offices are closed across several provinces, and more than 750 homes have been damaged, leaving 3,760 people displaced.
Floodwaters have cut off at least 48 communities, officials said.
In Haiti, Melissa destroyed crops in three regions, including 15 hectares (37 acres) of maize – a devastating blow as more than 5.7 million Haitians face crisis levels of hunger.
Flooding is blocking access to farmland and markets, threatening the winter harvest, according to the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization.
Locals in Kingston spent the weekend rushing to prepare.
Fishermen secured boats while city workers cleared trash and silt from Sandy Gully, a 20-kilometre waterway that could overflow and split the capital in two.
“Slow movement still cause a lot of damage, right?” said fisherman Clive Davis.
“Different from Beryl, cause Beryl come with a speed and never stay too long. Just sweep through. But this now, she wants to come stay, visit Jamaica for three days, why?”
“It’s gonna slow down business, but it’s nature,” he added. “We can’t fight against nature, right?”
The NHC warned that catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides are likely across Jamaica and Haiti through Tuesday.
Western Haiti could see 16 inches (40 cm) of rainfall, while eastern Cuba may receive up to 20 inches (51 cm).
Melissa’s center is forecast to cross Jamaica on Tuesday, then move over southeast Cuba Tuesday night and sweep through the southeast Bahamas on Wednesday.
A hurricane warning is now in place for Cuba’s Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and Holguín provinces, with a tropical storm warning issued for Las Tunas.
Up to 20 inches of rain and a significant storm surge are expected along Cuba’s southeastern coastline.
“The hurricane is expected to make another landfall later Tuesday in eastern Cuba,” said Vaz.
Melissa’s explosive growth – more than doubling in strength over the weekend – has stunned forecasters.
Experts warn this kind of rapid intensification is becoming increasingly common as ocean temperatures rise due to climate change.
Three of this season’s four Atlantic hurricanes – Erin, Gabrielle and Humberto – have all undergone similar explosive strengthening.
Though the U.S. mainland is not expected to be directly hit, the NHC warned rough surf and rip currents will spread along the East Coast next week.
“Don’t make foolish decisions,” warned Jamaica’s Transport Minister Daryl Vaz. “We are in a very, very serious time over the next few days.”
Officials have urged residents to stay indoors, avoid floodwaters and follow evacuation orders.
“This storm is not just powerful – it’s relentless,” Thompson said. “It’s going to test Jamaica in a way we haven’t seen in generations.”
“This is media sensationalism designed to make people believe global warming will destroy our world.”
A BBC report tonight made sure to say the cause was “MAN MADE Climate Change” as if this was settled science.
185 mph, 5 miles wide. Hurricane force winds 30 miles wide. It’s not the end of civilization in Jamaica.
Rain causes lots of problems. But it’s survivable for most people.
The hype is for is a bigger purpose.
It’s not just this storm, it’s ALL weather reporting now. So many times, friends have called me to see if I’m OK after seeing weather reports about Kentucky. I was fine. No issue at all. Weather reports super hype everything, for political reasons
“ Weather reports super hype everything, for political reasons”
I agree with that.
But we have to be careful and not blame every severe forecast as hype.
The tragedy in Texas was forecast, and well shared ahead of time and people didn’t heed the warnings .
And I fully agree with you here. But the flip side to this is; we must be careful not to hype every weather event lest people stop believing the forecasters.
I heard a guy last night saying Melissa is “more powerful than Katrina!!! I mean, give me a break. She might have a lower core pressure and a tiny ring of higher winds. But in raw power? Katrina was an order of magnitude higher. Hyperbole doesn’t help. (He says, as he engages in it. 🤗)
The power of nature is incredible and should always be respected. Weather forecasters need to have maximum credibility. They can literally save lives. People in Jamaica needed to be told that Kingston would be a safer place to be
We visited Montego Bay last year. It was beautiful. I would not want to be there in a hurricane. But there are many buildings that are built to withstand the wind forces. They’ve been through this more than a few times.
People in Jamaica need to be seriously warned. Many of them are in great peril. Anyone within 30-50 miles of the forecasted landing would be foolish to stay unless they are at high elevation, in a stone dwelling, and prepared for what’s coming.
My problem is, all the hype here in the US. NO ONE in the US is at any risk from this storm. But there have been no huge, damaging storms this year. Meaning the networks have not been able to hype up climate change, as they were planning. Melissa is their last chance. So we hear crap like, “More powerful than Katrina”.
Melissa is a small, freakish storm that will severely damage a VERY small area in Jamaica, bring an excessive amount of rain over a few days. It will surely kill a few people and inconvenience many…probably for months. But life will continue in Jamaica. Cruise ships will be back in short order.
The story will disappear. Except for the narrative ; “Most powerful storm of the year”.
By hurricane and meteorological standards, it was very powerful. Cat 5 is pretty strong, so yeah, that does qualify as a powerful storm.
Size isn’t necessarily the criteria for determining powerful as the NWS learned the hard way with Hurricane Andrew.
FWIW, I detest the MSM and their constant fear porn in regard to ANYTHING.
Sure… any Cat 5 has plenty of raw power. But in terms of total kinetic energy, size matters. Katrina had 50% more energy than Melissa.
With small, strong storms like this ( and Andrew) location is everything. In the high wind area, destruction is massive. It’s just not as widespread.
Melissa was (and still is) an incredibly well organized storm. It’s a good thing she didn’t develop earlier in the season, and hit land so quickly. Mother Nature remains awe-inspiring.
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