Hurricane Melissa slams Jamaica as historic Category 5 storm with catastrophic wind, flooding
The pressure within Hurricane Melissa was measured at 892 millibars – stronger than Hurricane Katrina's 902-millibar minimum central pressure before it made its catastrophic landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast in the Southeast in August 2005. Hurricane Melissa now ties for the No. 3 spot on the all-time most intense hurricanes on record in the Atlantic basin.
Hurricane Melissa accelerates towards Cuba after making landfall along the southwestern coast of Jamaica.
FOX Weather Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari provides the latest update on Hurricane Melissa as it heads toward Cuba as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 130 mph.
As of Wednesday at 3:00 AM ET, Hurricane Melissa made a second landfall in Cuba after devastating Jamaica with catastrophic impacts. Continuous coverage of Hurricane Melissa on its eventual path to Bermuda has moved here.
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Hurricane Melissa made its catastrophic landfall along the southwestern coast of Jamaica on Tuesday afternoon as a historic Category 5 storm, lashing the Caribbean island nation with destructive winds well over 100 mph, torrential rains measured in feet and life-threatening storm surge as it eyes Cuba as its next landing spot.
Landfall occurred at 1 p.m. ET near New Hope, Jamaica, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), with winds of 185 mph. Since landfall, Melissa's winds have degraded, but it is still a dangerous Category 4 hurricane.
CROCODILES COULD INVADE JAMAICAN NEIGHBORHOODS IN WAKE OF HURRICANE MELISSA FLOODING
The eye of the storm has passed over the western side of the island and has since re-emerged over the anomalously warm waters of the Caribbean, eyeing Cuba next, where the NHC expects Hurricane Melissa to make its second landfall as an extremely dangerous major hurricane.
This graphic shows details on Hurricane Melissa's landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
(FOX Weather)
Not far from landfall in Black River, extreme winds from Melissa caused damage, peeling off roofs and sending debris flying. The NHC said catastrophic winds, flash flooding and storm surge were ongoing across parts of Jamaica.
Hurricane Melissa peels back roofs from homes in Black River, Jamaica
Footage shot on Tuesday shows powerful winds from Hurricane Melissa strong enough to peel back roofs from homes in Black River, Jamaica. The Category 5 hurricane made landfall about 12 miles northwest of Black River.
On Tuesday morning, the pressure within Hurricane Melissa was measured at 892 millibars – stronger than Hurricane Katrina's 902-millibar minimum central pressure before it made its catastrophic landfall along the U.S. Gulf Coast in the Southeast in August 2005.
Melissa now ties for the No. 3 spot on the all-time most intense hurricanes on record in the Atlantic basin. The storm that remains in the top spot is Hurricane Wilma in 2005, which had a pressure measuring 882 millibars.
For the second day in a row, a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft was forced to abort its mission from inside Hurricane Melissa due to extreme turbulence.
HURRICANE MELISSA IS THE THIRD CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE THIS SEASON, A FIRST IN 20 YEARS
![Waves crash onto the beach in Kingston on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with potentially deadly rains after rapidly intensifying into a top-level Category 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what could be the island's most violent weather on record. Melissa has already been blamed for at least four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on parts of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 1 of 12Waves crash onto the beach in Kingston on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with potentially deadly rains after rapidly intensifying into a top-level Category 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what could be the island's most violent weather on record. Melissa has already been blamed for at least four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on parts of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![A coconut tree sways in the wind at the Kingston Waterfront on Ocean Boulevard in Kingston, Jamaica, as Jamaica starts to feel the effects of Hurricane Mellisa on October 26, 2025. Hurricane Melissa was cutting a deadly path in the Caribbean on the night of October 25, with rapid intensification expected over the weekend as it took a worryingly slow course toward Jamaica and the island of Hispaniola, forecasters said. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 2 of 12A coconut tree sways in the wind at the Kingston Waterfront on Ocean Boulevard in Kingston, Jamaica, as Jamaica starts to feel the effects of Hurricane Melissa on October 26, 2025. Hurricane Melissa was cutting a deadly path in the Caribbean on the night of October 25, with rapid intensification expected over the weekend as it took a worryingly slow course toward Jamaica and the island of Hispaniola, forecasters said. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![People sit in a shelter at Holy Family Primary School in Kingston on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with potentially deadly rains after rapidly intensifying into a top-level Category 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what could be the island's most violent weather on record. Melissa has already been blamed for at least four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on parts of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 3 of 12People sit in a shelter at Holy Family Primary School in Kingston on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with potentially deadly rains after rapidly intensifying into a top-level Category 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what could be the island's most violent weather on record. Melissa has already been blamed for at least four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on parts of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![A man watches the waves crash into the walls at the Kingston Waterfront on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with potentially deadly rains after rapidly intensifying into a top-level Category 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what could be the island's most violent weather on record. Melissa has already been blamed for at least four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on parts of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 4 of 12A man watches the waves crash into the walls at the Kingston Waterfront on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with potentially deadly rains after rapidly intensifying into a top-level Category 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what could be the island's most violent weather on record. Melissa has already been blamed for at least four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on parts of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![A man attempts to secure the roof of his home ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa strengthened Monday as it took aim at Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean as a top-level Category 5 storm, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to seek shelter immediately. After passing over Jamaica, the storm was forecast to head north and cross over eastern Cuba on Tuesday night, while continuing to bring rain and heavy winds to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 5 of 12A man attempts to secure the roof of his home ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa strengthened Monday as it took aim at Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean as a top-level Category 5 storm, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to seek shelter immediately. After passing over Jamaica, the storm was forecast to head north and cross over eastern Cuba on Tuesday night, while continuing to bring rain and heavy winds to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![A man covers the windows of his home with corrugated iron ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa strengthened Monday as it took aim at Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean as a top-level Category 5 storm, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to seek shelter immediately. After passing over Jamaica, the storm was forecast to head north and cross over eastern Cuba on Tuesday night, while continuing to bring rain and heavy winds to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 6 of 12A man covers the windows of his home with corrugated iron ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa strengthened Monday as it took aim at Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean as a top-level Category 5 storm, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to seek shelter immediately. After passing over Jamaica, the storm was forecast to head north and cross over eastern Cuba on Tuesday night, while continuing to bring rain and heavy winds to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![A man attempts to secure the roof of his home ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa strengthened Monday as it took aim at Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean as a top-level Category 5 storm, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to seek shelter immediately. After passing over Jamaica, the storm was forecast to head north and cross over eastern Cuba on Tuesday night, while continuing to bring rain and heavy winds to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 7 of 12A man attempts to secure the roof of his home ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa strengthened Monday as it took aim at Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean as a top-level Category 5 storm, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to seek shelter immediately. After passing over Jamaica, the storm was forecast to head north and cross over eastern Cuba on Tuesday night, while continuing to bring rain and heavy winds to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![Teenagers gather at the Bank of Jamaica's car park on the Waterfront in Kingston on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with potentially deadly rains after rapidly intensifying into a top-level Category 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what could be the island's most violent weather on record. Melissa has already been blamed for at least four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on parts of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 8 of 12Teenagers gather at the Bank of Jamaica's car park on the Waterfront in Kingston on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with potentially deadly rains after rapidly intensifying into a top-level Category 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what could be the island's most violent weather on record. Melissa has already been blamed for at least four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on parts of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![A man uses his cellphone at the waterfront in Kingston on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with potentially deadly rains after rapidly intensifying into a top-level Category 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what could be the island's most violent weather on record. Melissa has already been blamed for at least four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on parts of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP)]()
Image 9 of 12A man uses his cellphone at the waterfront in Kingston on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with potentially deadly rains after rapidly intensifying into a top-level Category 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what could be the island's most violent weather on record. Melissa has already been blamed for at least four deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on parts of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![A motorist drives along flooded Michael Manley Boulevard in Kingston, Jamaica, as Jamaica starts to feel the effects of Hurricane Mellisa on October 26, 2025. Hurricane Melissa, already a major category 4 storm, gathered steam Sunday as it took aim at Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to seek shelter immediately. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 10 of 12A motorist drives along flooded Michael Manley Boulevard in Kingston, Jamaica, as Jamaica starts to feel the effects of Hurricane Mellisa on October 26, 2025. Hurricane Melissa, already a major category 4 storm, gathered steam Sunday as it took aim at Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to seek shelter immediately. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![A fallen Jamaica Public Service Company light pole is seen on the Sugar Man's beach main road in Hellshire, St Catherine parish, near Portmore, as Jamaica starts to feel the effects of Hurricane Mellisa on October 26, 2025. Hurricane Melissa, already a major category 4 storm, gathered steam Sunday as it took aim at Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to seek shelter immediately. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 11 of 12A fallen Jamaica Public Service Company light pole is seen on the Sugar Man's beach main road in Hellshire, St Catherine parish, near Portmore, as Jamaica starts to feel the effects of Hurricane Mellisa on October 26, 2025. Hurricane Melissa, already a major category 4 storm, gathered steam Sunday as it took aim at Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to seek shelter immediately. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![A cyclist rides up to a store to seek shelter from Hurricane Mellisa in Portmore on October 26, 2025. Hurricane Melissa was cutting a deadly path in the Caribbean on the night of October 25, with rapid intensification expected over the weekend as it took a worryingly slow course toward Jamaica and the island of Hispaniola, forecasters said. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 12 of 12A cyclist rides up to a store to seek shelter from Hurricane Mellisa in Portmore on October 26, 2025. Hurricane Melissa was cutting a deadly path in the Caribbean on the night of October 25, with rapid intensification expected over the weekend as it took a worryingly slow course toward Jamaica and the island of Hispaniola, forecasters said. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
For days, Jamaica’s government has been warning its residents and visitors to make preparations ahead of the monster storm’s landfall, and people have been rushing to stock up on food and water to sustain them through what will likely be long-duration power and communication outages due to the storm's ferocious impacts.
Ahead of landfall, about 35% of Jamaica was without power.
Fears mounted that the Category 5 hurricane’s destructive 185-mph winds may be too strong for buildings to handle, and officials warned those winds would likely lead to "total structural failure" near the path of Melissa’s powerful core.
The storm was deadly even before landfall.
Hurricane Melissa's 185 mph winds blast Treasure Beach, Jamaica
Video shows the powerful winds from Category 5 Hurricane Melissa blasting Treasure Beach, Jamaica about one hour before landfall on Oct. 28, 2025.
"I’m very sad to say that over the past few days in preparation of the storm, we’ve had three deaths," Jamaica’s Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. the Hon. Chrisopher Tufton, MP, said. "Three deaths linked to cutting down of trees. And in one instance, electrocution because of or due to the cutting down of a tree."
Injuries have also been reported, with Tufton saying most injuries were due to people falling from trees or rooftops, car crashes and one person who was walking through water and had "a nail penetrate their skin."
'Like a Train': FOX Weather correspondent faces Hurricane Melissa's brutal winds
FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray is facing the intense winds and rain bands from Hurricane Melissa after the major hurricane made landfall in Jamaica.
Officials said there are more than 800 shelters were opened for residents, with 382 occupied. Officials said about 12,000 residents were in shelters across the island by Tuesday.
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FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray has been on the ground in Jamaica since last week and got a firsthand look at what the government and residents were doing to prepare for Hurricane Melissa.
Ray and his team on the ground packed up and headed north later Monday and arrived in St. Ann Parish, where they remained as Hurricane Melissa sliced across Jamaica.
By Tuesday evening, Ray and the FOX Weather crew were facing some of Melissa's worst. Surrounded by horizontal rain and extreme gusts, Ray wore protective gear. He said the rain felt like pellets on his skin and the wind sounded like a train.
"I'm standing in mud, quite literally, right now, and everywhere I look, including the mountainside up there, it's just ripping," Ray said. I mean, trees are kind of on their sides at this point, and rain is whipping through this community here."
And after the storm lets up, fears are growing that this could become a disaster Jamaica has never seen before.
"We hope that Kingston stays in place, the capital, about a million people live there, because that airport will be a lifeline for aid to come in here and also to get people off of this Island," Ray said.
Melissa is the first landfall of a Category 5 hurricane since Hurricane Dorian struck the northwestern Bahamas on Sept. 1, 2019.
What's the latest with Hurricane Melissa?
(FOX Weather)
As of the latest forecast information from the NHC, Hurricane Melissa is re-strengthening, packing maximum sustained winds of 130 mph – making it a major Category 4 hurricane. After moving past Jamaica, Melissa temporarily weakened to a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph but has since restrengthened ahead of expected landfall in Cuba, according to the NHC.
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Hurricane Melissa is currently located about 110 miles to the southwest of Guantánamo, Cuba, and is moving off to the northeast at 9 mph.
A turn to the northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected later Tuesday, followed by a faster northeastward motion on Wednesday and Thursday.
(FOX Weather)
On that forecast track, the NHC said the center of Melissa will likely move across eastern Cuba on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, and across the southeastern or central Bahamas later Wednesday and approach Bermuda Thursday.
Hurricane Warnings remain in effect for portions of eastern Cuba and the southeastern and central Bahamas. A Hurricane Watch is in place for Bermuda. The storm has moved past Jamaica, the island's Hurricane Warning has since been replaced by a Tropical Storm Warning that remains in effect.