Hurricane Melissa is the third Category 5 hurricane this season, a first in 20 years
The last time the Atlantic hurricane season produced more than two Category 5 storms was in 2005. However, that year saw 28 named storms. This year, there have been 13 named storms, with three reaching Category 5 strength. FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross says this is "extraordinary."
Bryan Norcross: Melissa 'extraordinary' Category 5 hurricane approaches Jamaica
FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross provides his expert analysis on Hurricane Melissa. The Category 5 storm will bring extreme dangers of mudslides, flash flooding and storm surge to Jamaica in the next 24 hours.
KINGSTON, Jamaica – With Hurricane Melissa's rapid intensification, the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season has produced three Category 5 hurricanes, which hasn't happened in a single season for 20 years.
A hurricane with maximum sustained winds of at least 157 mph is classified as a Category 5 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricane Melissa had sustained winds of 165 mph late Monday morning.
This satellite image shows Hurricane Melissa just south of Jamaica on the morning of Oct. 27, 2025.
(NOAA)
What's even more astounding about this year's Category 5 hurricanes is that the last time this happened in a single season, there were more than twice as many named storms, according to FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross.
This is only the second time in modern history to have more than two Category 5 storms in one season. The last time it happened was in 2005, with four Category 5 hurricanes.
"And remember how many storms? We set a record in 2005 with 28 named storms," Norcross said. "So this is extraordinary considering we have 13 named storms this year and three of them Category 5."
Norcross said the number of named storms, including major hurricanes, stronger than a Category 3, was on track with what most models predicted this season, including new artificial intelligence (AI) models.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, Melissa is also historic for its low pressure. Melissa had a pressure of 908 millibars late Monday morning, the lowest of the three Category 5 storms this season. It's also tied with Hurricane Maria in 2017 for the ninth-lowest pressure of any Atlantic hurricane on record.
This is satellite imagery of Hurricane Humberto.
(CIRA / FOX Weather)
Hurricane Humberto underwent rapid intensification in September, becoming a monster Category 5 storm. The storm did not make landfall but produced life-threatening surf and rip currents along the East Coast.
In August, Hurricane Erin was the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season and reached Category 5 strength with 160-mph winds moving north of the Caribbean islands. Erin remained more than 200 miles offshore of the U.S., but it still produced extensive coastal flooding along the Eastern Seaboard.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs through Nov. 30.
Satellite image of Hurricane Erin on Thursday morning, Aug. 21, 2025.
(NOAA)