Satellite imagery captures Hurricane Melissa on Monday afternoon. Image: CNN.
(The Post News)- A slow moving but deadly hurricane is heading toward Jamaica, threatening to unleash torrential rains and destructive winds on the Caribbean island. Hurricane Melissa, which has been upgraded to a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of up to 165 mph (270 km/h), is expected to make landfall in the early hours of Tuesday, 28 October 2025.
Authorities Name Hurricane Melissa the Strongest This Year
Authorities warn that Hurricane Melissa could become the strongest hurricane ever to strike Jamaica. The storm has already claimed at least four lives in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Meteorologists are particularly concerned about Melissa’s slow movement, which increases the risk of catastrophic flooding and landslides.
“This extreme rainfall potential, owing to the slow motion, is going to create a catastrophic event here for Jamaica,” said Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
NHC reported that Melissa was 145 miles (233 km) southwest of Kingston, moving at just 3 mph (6 km/h). Forecasters warn that the hurricane could strengthen further over the next 12 to 24 hours.
Authorities have urged residants to evacuate in parts of the capital, Kingston. The island has been classified as “threatened. In rural areas, school buses are being used to transport vulnerable residents to shelters, and toll booths have been opened to prevent traffic congestion.”
Hurricane Melissa To Disrupt Jamaica The Whole Week
Damian Anderson, a 47-year-old teacher from the mountainous town of Hagley Gap said, “We can’t move. We’re scared.”
According to forecasters, destructive winds and life threatening storm surges are likely to hit Jamaica overnight Monday or early Tuesday. “The NHC predicts Melissa’s core will move near or over Jamaica tonight and early Tuesday, across southeastern Cuba Tuesday night, and over the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday,” they stated.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has urged all Jamaicans to prepare, stay indoors during the storm, and comply with evacuation orders. “We will weather this storm and rebuild stronger,” he wrote on X. Officials are emphasizing the importance of seeking shelter in safer areas.
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