Posted: Monday, October 27, 2025. 2:17 pm CST.
By Zoila Palma: Hurricane Melissa has become the strongest storm on Earth this year, following an extraordinary period of rapid intensification over the weekend.
Now a rare Category 5 hurricane, Melissa is packing sustained winds of 175 mph with even stronger gusts, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The storm’s power and slow movement have set the stage for catastrophic impacts across parts of the Caribbean.
Jamaica is already experiencing hurricane-force winds and torrential rain as Melissa’s outer bands lash the island.
Officials have issued mandatory evacuation orders for vulnerable coastal areas, warning of life-threatening conditions as the storm’s core approaches.
Melissa has already claimed three lives in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, and forecasters warn that it could become Jamaica’s worst hurricane in decades.
The NHC predicts up to 40 inches of rainfall, storm surges up to 13 feet, and sustained winds near 160 mph, conditions expected to cause widespread infrastructure damage and isolate communities.
International agencies are now mobilizing in anticipation of Melissa’s impact.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced Monday that it is preparing to deploy teams to Jamaica and Cuba “as conditions allow” to assist with coordination and emergency response.
The World Food Programme is providing logistics and power support, while UNICEF has pre-positioned clean water, sanitation supplies, and materials for child protection.
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The post Monstrous Category 5 Hurricane Melissa becomes strongest storm on the planet in 2025 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Monday, October 27, 2025. 2:17 pm CST. By Zoila Palma: Hurricane Melissa has become the strongest storm on Earth this year, following an extraordinary period
The post Monstrous Category 5 Hurricane Melissa becomes strongest storm on the planet in 2025 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
