Hurricane Melissa made landfall Tuesday afternoon as a Category 5 storm, bringing intense winds and heavy rainfall to western Jamaica. The storm’s central air pressure reached an incredible 892 millibars, driving stronger winds and causing widespread destruction.
Desmond McKenzie, Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Council deputy chairman, urged people to seek shelter before the storm hit, warning that “Jamaica, this is not the time to be brave.” With estimated 240,000 customers without electricity, the island was left in a state of chaos.
As the eye of the storm passed through, trees and power lines fell, streets flooded, and major buildings were shuttered. Some residents braved the winds and rain to take pictures of the rising tide in Kingston Harbor.
The storm’s predicted surge poses a grave threat, with most cities along Jamaica’s coast at risk due to its low elevation. Humanitarian groups have prepared for their response, but challenges lie ahead as infrastructure, transportation, and logistics capacity are affected.
Melissa is expected to cause widespread damage, including catastrophic flash flooding and landslides, and is forecast to hit southeastern Cuba later this week, where it may cause devastating effects. The storm will also bring strong winds and squally rain to the Bahamas and potentially fuel a separate storm in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Overall, Jamaica faces a dire situation as Melissa intensifies rapidly, with its impact expected to be felt across the Caribbean and beyond.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025/10/28/hurricane-melissa-jamaica-damage