A fierce Hurricane Melissa bears down on Jamaica with disastrous impacts
Hurricane Melissa is a slow-moving monster that is dumping life-threatening rains to the northern Caribbean. Flooding and landslides are likely going to be a serious and disastrous threat to life and property as Jamaica soon faces a landfall from the Category 5 storm
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Weather Highlights:
Hurricane Melissa remains a powerful, Category 5 hurricane
Melissa will make landfall on Jamaica by Tuesday morning, possibly as a Category 5 hurricane still
Life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding, winds and storm surge expected in Jamaica and southern Hispaniola
Hurricane warning extended to southeastern and central Bahamas
All attempts to secure life and property should be completed. Tourists in the region are urged to heed the advice of local officials
Category 5 Hurricane Melissa set for for dangerous Jamaica landfall early Tuesday
With the additional strengthening seen on Monday, Melissa is now the strongest global storm of the year so far--ahead of the devastating Super Typhoon Regasa--a large, powerful and deadly tropical cyclone.
As of Monday evening, Melissa remains a Category 5 hurricane, boasting maximum, sustained winds of 280 km/h. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely before Melissa makes landfall on Jamaica.
On the forecast track, the core of Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica by early Tuesday, across southeastern Cuba Tuesday night, and across the southeastern or central Bahamas on Wednesday.
With a perfectly symmetrical eye, and well-defined outer bands, Melissa could remain as a Category 5 hurricane at it extremely slowly tracks towards Jamaica for landfall Tuesday morning.
Melissa is expected to reach Jamaica and southeastern Cuba as an extremely powerful, major hurricane, and will still be at hurricane strength when it moves across the southeastern Bahamas.
RELATED: Airports close as Jamaica braces for potentially catastrophic Hurricane Melissa
This also marks the third Category 5 storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, a rare occurrence only exceeded by the 2005 season, which saw four similar systems.
All efforts to secure lives and property should be completed
Melissa is tracking extremely slowly at just 4 km/h, heading toward Jamaica, where landfall is expected by Tuesday morning.
Rainfall amounts between 380 mm to 750+ mm are possible in parts of Jamaica, with an additional 150 to 300+ mm expected in southern Hispaniola through Wednesday. Local storm totals could reach or exceed 1,000 mm.
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These conditions elevate risks of life-threatening flooding, coastal erosion, and landslides.
The storm’s forecast path will bring significant impacts to low-lying, densely populated areas along Jamaica's south coast, with storm surge and flooding presenting major hazards. Mountainous regions will also face elevated risks of landslides.
Melissa’s eye wall, carrying the most intense winds, is expected to pass directly over the island. Canadian authorities have issued travel advisories for the region.
WATCH: Residents urged to leave ahead of dangerous storm surge
Jamaica's strongest hurricane in 37 years
This will be Jamaica's strongest hurricane since Gilbert in 1988, which caused 49 fatalities and devastated the island with over 800 mm of rainfall, triggering landslides and widespread power outages. Gilbert made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 4 hurricane.
Landfall in southeastern Cuba is projected Tuesday night, and Melissa will likely still be at hurricane strength when it moves across the southeastern or central Bahamas on Wednesday.
Eastern Cuba is expected to receive total rainfall of 250 to 500+ mm, with localized amounts up to 635 mm through Wednesday. This could result in life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding, along with numerous landslides.
For the southeastern Bahamas, total rainfall of 125 to 250+ mm is expected Tuesday into Wednesday, leading to the potential for flash flooding in some areas.
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Peak storm surge heights could reach 2.7 to 4 metres above ground level, particularly near and east of Melissa's landfall location. This surge will be accompanied by large, destructive waves.
As well, there is a potential for significant storm surge along the southeast coast of Cuba late Tuesday or Wednesday. Peak storm surge heights could reach 2.13 metres to 3.35 metres above normal tide levels, near and to the east of where the centre of Melissa makes landfall.
Stay updated on alerts and evacuation orders, as the situation remains highly dangerous.
Canadian impacts? Stay alert
Melissa is forecast to move along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard through mid to late week before likely heading out to sea.
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There is potential for some of its moisture and energy to transfer to a developing East Coast low, which could result in heavy rainfall for parts of eastern Canada around Halloween.
Thumnbnail courtesy of NOAA.
Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest updates on the tropics.