Posted: Tuesday, October 28, 2025. 9:13 am CST.
By Zoila Palma: The devastating eyewall of Hurricane Melissa is now coming ashore in southern Jamaica, bringing catastrophic 185 mph (295 km/h) winds, torrential rain, and life-threatening storm surge as the island faces what experts call a once-in-a-century disaster.
Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) describe the storm as “an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation,” warning Jamaicans that this is their “last chance to protect your life.”
Melissa’s outer bands have already begun battering the island, and the hurricane’s core — its most destructive zone — is now making landfall.
Melissa has intensified into a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 185 mph, making it one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in recorded history.
According to NHC data, Melissa’s central pressure has dropped to 892 millibars, a near-unprecedented reading. Only two hurricanes have ever recorded lower pressure — Wilma (2005) at 882 mb and Gilbert (1988) at 888 mb.
Meteorologists warn that Melissa’s explosive strengthening before landfall — known as rapid intensification — is becoming increasingly common as global ocean temperatures rise due to climate change.
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has called Melissa the “storm of the century,” warning that its impact could reshape Jamaica’s infrastructure, economy, and communities for years to come.
Jamaica has never before taken a direct hit from a Category 5 hurricane, making Melissa’s approach both historic and catastrophic.
The storm has already claimed at least 7 lives — three in Jamaica during pre-storm preparations, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic. Officials fear that number could rise sharply as communication and power networks collapse.
Southern Jamaica is now enduring Melissa’s fiercest winds as the eyewall moves onshore.
The NHC urges residents to shelter in interior, windowless rooms, cover themselves with a mattress for protection, and wear helmets if possible. “Failure to take shelter could lead to serious injury or death,” the agency warned.
As the storm pushes inland, widespread flooding, landslides, and infrastructure collapse are expected. Power lines and communication systems are already down across parts of Kingston and St. Elizabeth.
With sustained winds of 185 mph, Melissa now ranks tied as the second-strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded — alongside Gilbert (1988) and just below Wilma (2005) in terms of intensity, CNN reports.
Top Five Strongest Atlantic Hurricanes (by wind speed and pressure):
Wilma (2005) — 882 mb, 185 mph
Melissa (2025) — 892 mb, 185 mph
Gilbert (1988) — 888 mb, 185 mph
Milton (2024) — 895 mb, 180 mph
Rita (2005) — 895 mb, 180 mph
As Hurricane Melissa roars across Jamaica, international agencies are on high alert.
The United Nations, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), and regional governments are preparing emergency response operations amid what could become one of the most destructive hurricanes in Caribbean history.
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The post Catastrophic Category 5 Hurricane Melissa slams into Jamaica — strongest storm in the Atlantic in nearly 2 decades appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Tuesday, October 28, 2025. 9:13 am CST. By Zoila Palma: The devastating eyewall of Hurricane Melissa is now coming ashore in southern Jamaica, bringing catastrophic
The post Catastrophic Category 5 Hurricane Melissa slams into Jamaica — strongest storm in the Atlantic in nearly 2 decades appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
