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Hurricane Melissa ties record for strongest hurricane in Atlantic history

The report showed that Hurricane Melissa's landfalling maximum sustained winds are now tied with Hurricane Dorian in 2018 and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, as the strongest hurricane in Atlantic history.

By Hayley Vawter Source FOX Weather

FILE: Drone video shows hurricane damage in Jamaica

JAMAICA DEVASTATION: Drone video reveals the extent of damage left behind in Middle Quarters, Jamaica from Hurricane Melissa. Thousands of people were displaced as the storm destroyed homes and businesses, leaving rubble behind.

JAMAICA - Hurricane Melissa, the Category 5 storm that ripped through Jamaica and caused catastrophic damage, is now tied for the strongest hurricane to ever form in the Atlantic Ocean.

The National Hurricane Center issued its Tropical Cyclone Report for Hurricane Melissa, which caused deadly destruction in the Caribbean in late October 2025.

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An aerial view shows damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, Jamaica, on October 31, 2025. At least 19 people in Jamaica have died as a result of Hurricane Melissa which devastated the island nation when it roared ashore this week, a government minister told news outlets late October 31. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

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Remains of the Black River Market are seen following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in Black River, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. (NHC). (Photo by Ricardo MAKYN / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

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A house with a damaged roof is seen after the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Manchester, Jamaica, on October 28, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

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This screen grab from an aerial video shows damaged buildings and structures in St. Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica, on October 29, 2025, after Hurricane Melissa tore through the island. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. (Photo by AFP VIDEOGRAPHICS / AFP) (Photo by AFP VIDEOGRAPHICS/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

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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) ( )

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This aerial view shows storm surge crashing into the seawall that protects Palisadoes Strip, the route to Norman Manley International Airport, before the arrival of Hurricane Melissa, in Kingston, Jamaica, on October 25, 2025. Deadly storm Melissa strengthened Saturday afternoon into a Category 1 hurricane, with rapid intensification expected over the weekend as it cut a worryingly slow course toward the Caribbean island of Jamaica, forecasters said. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

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An aerial view of homes where roofs were damaged when Hurricane Beryl passed through the area on July 05, 2024 in Saint Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica. (Joe Raedle)

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Fallen trees block sections of the Spur Tree main road following the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Manchester, Jamaica, on October 28, 2025. Hurricane Melissa ripped up trees and knocked out power after making landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025 as one of the most powerful hurricanes on record, inundating the island nation with rains that threaten flash floods and landslides. (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

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A car and surrounding buildings are seen damaged following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, in Black River, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica on October 29, 2025. Hurricane Melissa bore down on the Bahamas October 29 after cutting a path of destruction through the Caribbean, leaving 30 people dead or missing in Haiti and parts of Jamaica and Cuba in ruins.  Somewhat weakened but still threatening, Melissa will bring damaging winds and flooding rains to the Bahamas Wednesday before moving on to Bermuda late Thursday, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). (Photo by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images) ( )

Melissa's maximum sustained winds of 185 mph upon landfall in Jamaica broke records, the NHC's report showed.

The NHC's report showed that Hurricane Melissa's landfalling maximum sustained winds are now tied with Hurricane Dorian in 2018 and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, as the strongest hurricane in Atlantic history.

BEFORE AND AFTER SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWCASES EXTENSIVE HURRICANE MELISSA DESTRUCTION IN JAMAICA

Top Atlantic hurricanes by wind. (FOX Weather)

Melissa's maximum winds post-landfall were reclassified as 190 mph, up from 185 mph, tying it for no. 1 strongest winds with Hurricane Allen in 1980.

Melissa first hit Jamaica as a strong Category 5 hurricane on Oct. 28.

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This animated satellite image provides a look at catastrophic Category 5 Hurricane Melissa as it approached Jamaica. (FOX Weather)

The hurricane was officially classified as the strongest and costliest hurricane to ever hit Jamaica, causing millions of dollars in damage and killing at least 45 people in the country.

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FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray was in Jamaica for the landfall of the storm, watching the destruction unfold in real time.

FILE: Category 5 monster: Hurricane Melissa slams Jamaica in most intense landfall in 90 years

Hurricane Melissa is on a destructive path across Jamaica, causing catastrophic winds and life-threatening flash flooding. FOX Weather's Robert Ray is live on the ground. 

Windows in the home Ray and his crew rented to cover the hurricane shattered prior to the storm's landfall during the extreme conditions.

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Glass, debris and water littered the floor from the shattered windows in the home as Ray showed the damage.

FILE: Eerie inside tour of home damaged during Hurricane Melissa as winds continued to rage

FOX Weather's Robert Ray takes us on a surreal tour of the home he and his crew rented to ride out Hurricane Melisa in Saint Ann Parish in Jamaica. All of the glass windows and doors shattered, and part of a porch collapsed.

He stayed through the storm and in the days after, showing the damage, talking to Jamaicans impacted and detailing the recovery operations.

"I have never seen a disaster like this in my life," said Ray, who has covered such other disasters as Hurricanes Katrina and Helene, and the Mayfield, Kentucky, tornado. "One community after the next is in total ruin."

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Hurricane Hunters fly into Hurricane Melissa (NOAA)

NOAA's Hurricane Hunters deployed to investigate Melissa and the storm's attributes.

During the mission, a dropsonde was launched from the airplane. A dropsonde is a cylindrical weather instrument used to collect weather data on tropical systems such as pressure, humidity, temperature and wind gusts.

RECORD-BREAKING 252 MPH WIND READING VERIFIED FROM HISTORIC HURRICANE MELISSA
 

FILE: Hurricane Hunters fly directly into the center of the chaos within Hurricane Melissa

During their coverage in the storm’s eyewall at landfall, Hurricane Hunters experienced extreme turbulence and were forced to depart from the hurricane prematurely.

Data from the dropsonde indicated a 252 mph wind gust recorded inside the storm.

This gust breaks the previous record of 240 mph set by Typhoon Megi in 2010.

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Melissa historical track through the Caribbean. (FOX Weather)

Hurricane Melissa's destruction was far-reaching, impacting multiple island nations in the Caribbean.

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The NHC's report shows that at least 95 people died between Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean countries.