Jamaica Hurricane: Category 5 Melissa Targets Island With Catastrophic Winds, Flooding

Jamaica is facing a historic and life-threatening emergency as Hurricane Melissa—now a powerful Category 5—moves over or very near the island today. With sustained winds around 175 mph and a slow forward speed, the storm threatens extreme wind damage, flash flooding, landslides, and a dangerous storm surge along south and north coasts. Officials activated hundreds of shelters, ordered evacuations in low-lying zones of Kingston and Port Royal, and closed international airports as conditions rapidly deteriorated overnight. Early reports already indicate widespread power outages, blocked roads, and coastal inundation. This is expected to be Jamaica’s strongest hurricane on record.

Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica: What’s Happening Now

• Wind & surge: Melissa’s core is packing catastrophic winds capable of collapsing roofs, toppling concrete power poles, and stripping vegetation. A storm surge up to 10–13 feet is possible near and east of the landfall point, pushing seawater well inland and flooding hospitals and critical facilities in vulnerable corridors.

• Rainfall & landslides: Forecasts call for 15–30 inches of rain, with local maxima up to 40 inches in mountainous terrain—enough to trigger life-threatening flash floods and large, fast-moving landslides.

• Track across the island: The hurricane is expected to traverse Jamaica from St. Elizabeth (south) toward St. Ann (north), exposing a broad swath of communities to the eyewall’s most destructive winds. Even areas far from the center will face severe squalls and tornado-like gusts in outer rainbands.

• Casualties & damage: Recent updates cite multiple fatalities across the Caribbean in the storm’s approach, with numbers likely to change as assessments continue. Communication disruptions and blocked access roads are hampering early damage surveys.

Evacuations, Shelters, and Government Response

Authorities have opened roughly 900 shelters nationwide and issued mandatory evacuation orders for flood-prone coastlines and sections of the capital. Public messaging emphasizes moving inland and uphill where possible, avoiding river crossings, and staying off roads once tropical-storm conditions begin. Hospitals have relocated vulnerable patients, while emergency services pre-positioned swift-water rescue teams and heavy equipment to clear debris once winds subside. Despite warnings, some residents—especially in historic waterfront communities—have remained in place; responders caution that overnight rescues may be impossible while the eyewall is passing.

Air and sea ports are closed, with commercial flights suspended and harbor operations halted until damage inspections can be completed. Utility companies have staged repair crews but stress that power restoration could take days in the hardest-hit parishes due to downed transmission corridors and inaccessible terrain.

Why Hurricane Melissa Is So Dangerous for Jamaica

Jamaica’s mountainous spine amplifies rainfall and accelerates runoff into densely populated valleys and coastal plains. When a slow-moving Category 5 interacts with steep topography, the risks multiply:

• Prolonged eyewall exposure: Even small wobbles in track can keep the strongest winds over the same parishes for hours, compounding structural damage.

• Orographic rainfall: Moist onshore flow is forced upslope, wringing out extreme totals and overwhelming drainage.

• Compound flooding: Storm surge on the coast can back up rivers at the same time deluges arrive from the hills, trapping water in urban basins.

For context, past major hurricanes brought devastating rain and surge to Jamaica. Melissa’s wind intensity, combined with its slow pace and broad wind field, sets up a worst-case mix rarely seen in island records.

Timeline and Next Areas at Risk

• Today (Tuesday, Oct. 28): Core impacts in Jamaica—extreme wind, peak storm surge on south and north shores near the track, catastrophic rainfall and landslides across central and eastern parishes.

• Tonight–Wednesday: The center exits near the north coast, with dangerous conditions lingering in squalls.

• Later Wednesday–Thursday: The threat shifts to eastern Cuba and the southeastern Bahamas, where evacuations are underway and hurricane warnings are in effect. Forecast guidance maintains major-hurricane strength as the system crosses warm waters, though interaction with land could cause some fluctuations.

Schedule subject to change as the storm evolves.

What Recovery Could Look Like

Experience shows that the first 24–72 hours after a severe landfall are dominated by search and rescue, debris clearance, and power/water restoration. With bridges and mountain roads likely damaged, access to isolated communities may require air or sea support. Agricultural losses—especially bananas, sugar, and smallholder crops—could be heavy, with ripple effects on local markets. Tourism infrastructure along exposed coasts may also need structural assessments before reopening. International and regional partners have signaled readiness to support relief logistics once conditions allow safe deployment.

Safety Notes During and After the Hurricane

• Shelter in a small, interior room on the lowest floor above flood level; avoid windows and doors.

• Do not enter floodwaters. Hidden debris, open manholes, and energized lines pose lethal hazards.

• Wait for official all-clear before leaving shelter; calm conditions may simply be the eye passing overhead.

• Use generators outdoors only and keep them far from windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Recent updates indicate an evolving situation; key figures—such as rainfall totals, surge heights, and casualties—may change as assessments come in. Jamaica’s emergency services urge the public to monitor official alerts and remain in place until the storm fully clears.