Hurricane Melissa slams Jamaica with historic force, triggers life-threatening surge and island-wide outages

Jamaica endured a direct hit from Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday, October 28, with the storm roaring ashore on the island’s southwest coast as an extreme Category 5. Sustained winds near 185 mph and violent gusts devastated coastal towns, while a dangerous storm surge and torrential rain inundated communities far from the shoreline. By early Wednesday, October 29, Jamaica was assessing widespread damage and power loss as Melissa pushed northwest toward Cuba and the Bahamas.

Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica: what happened and why it matters

Melissa carved a diagonal path across Jamaica, entering near St. Elizabeth and exiting around St. Ann. The compact core delivered hours of destructive wind, while bands of rain wrapped the island with repeated squalls. Early tallies indicated a majority of customers lost electricity at the peak, with communications degraded in hard-hit parishes. Officials opened more than a hundred shelters ahead of landfall; turnout varied as road flooding and downed trees cut access for numerous communities.

The landfall intensity places Hurricane Melissa among the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes to strike land in the modern record. For Jamaica, the wind speeds and surge heights rank at or near the top of historical impacts, a benchmark event likely to reshape coastal risk planning, building codes, and emergency logistics for years.

Key impacts across Jamaica

• Storm surge: Inundation capable of swallowing ground floors of coastal structures occurred along portions of the south and west coasts, with water pushed well inland in low-lying zones. Surge dangers persisted overnight as onshore winds and trapped runoff slowed drainage.

• Wind damage: Entire neighborhoods saw roofs peeled back and power poles snapped. Uprooted trees and debris blocked major corridors, complicating access for emergency crews.

• Rainfall and flooding: Melissa’s slow core transit produced destructive freshwater flooding and landslides, especially along slopes and where drainage systems were overwhelmed. In some areas, totals from repeated bands were measured in double-digit inches.

• Critical services: Hospitals and clinics reported strain from generator reliance and limited access routes. Water and telecom services suffered interruptions in multiple parishes.

• Casualties: Initial reports of fatalities and injuries have emerged; officials are still verifying figures as assessments continue. Details may evolve.

What’s next for Hurricane Melissa after Jamaica

By Wednesday morning, Melissa was weakening from its peak but remained a large, dangerous hurricane approaching and crossing eastern Cuba. The system will then pass near or through the Bahamas and steer over open Atlantic waters later in the week. Even with gradual weakening, hazards extend far from the center: long-period swells, rip currents, and pockets of heavy rain will affect downstream islands.

For Jamaica, the post-storm phase is only beginning. Priority tasks include clearing life-line routes, restoring power, performing water-system checks, and conducting door-to-door welfare assessments in isolated communities. Agricultural losses—sugar, bananas, coffee, and smallholder crops—are expected to be significant, with implications for prices and livelihoods in the weeks ahead.

How Hurricane Melissa intensified so fast

Melissa underwent rapid intensification over exceptionally warm Caribbean waters with high ocean heat content—a deep reservoir of energy that can sustain explosive strengthening. Low to moderate wind shear and a compact inner core allowed the storm to consolidate quickly. This pattern mirrors a recent uptick in rapid-intensification events in the Atlantic basin, a challenge for forecasting and for emergency managers who must pivot from “prepare” to “protect life” in very short windows.

Travel, power, and school updates at a glance

• Air and sea: Flights were widely disrupted on Tuesday; ferry and cruise operations were suspended in local waters. As of Wednesday, reopening will hinge on runway inspections, navigational aids, and port safety checks.

• Roads: Expect closures on coastal and mountain routes due to washouts, downed trees, and utility poles. Use only official advisories for permitted corridors.

• Schools and government services: Most remain closed pending damage assessments and power restoration timelines.

• Curfews and access: Security and emergency access restrictions may be in effect in select areas to support rescue, utility repair, and debris operations.

Safety guidance for residents and relatives

• Stay off flooded roads. Vehicles can be swept away in less than two feet of moving water, and roadbeds may be compromised.

• Treat all downed lines as live. Keep generators outdoors and away from windows to avoid carbon-monoxide poisoning.

• Boil-water and sanitation. Follow local guidance; pressure losses can allow contamination.

• Document damage. Photograph safely during daylight for insurance and assistance claims.

• Check on neighbors. The elderly, people with disabilities, and families with infants may need extra support while services recover.

The broader picture for Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa will become a reference point in Jamaica’s hazard planning, much as earlier landmark storms reshaped preparedness in other Caribbean nations. Resilient rebuilding—roof tie-downs, elevated electrical systems, protected water pumps, and hardened health facilities—can reduce losses when the next major storm threatens. Over the coming days, coordinated aid, transparent damage assessments, and clear restoration milestones will be critical to turning the page from crisis to recovery.