Hurricane Melissa 2025: Jamaica’s strongest storm on record turns post-tropical; travel slowly resumes as damage assessments grow

Hurricane Melissa left Jamaica reeling after a catastrophic Category 5 landfall earlier this week. As of Saturday, the system has transitioned to a fast-moving post-tropical cyclone racing into the north Atlantic, passing well northwest of Bermuda and losing tropical characteristics. The humanitarian and infrastructure picture in Jamaica is still coming into focus, with large-scale power restoration, road clearance, and water service repairs underway.

Hurricane Melissa tracker and Jamaica outlook

• Status today: Post-tropical, accelerating northeast over the open Atlantic.

• Current hazards: Large ocean swells, rough surf, and rip currents across parts of the western Atlantic; brisk winds and rain along the storm’s extratropical path into the far North Atlantic.

• Jamaica: No additional tropical impacts expected from Melissa; focus has shifted entirely to recovery and clean-up.

• Bermuda/Canada: Brief periods of wind and rain as the post-tropical low races by; intensity continues to diminish.

Impact in Jamaica: Black River, Montego Bay, and the southwest hit hardest

Melissa struck Jamaica at peak intensity with extreme winds, destructive storm surge on exposed coasts, and torrential rain that triggered flash flooding and river overflows—especially across Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth (including Black River), Manchester (Mandeville) and parts of St. James (Montego Bay). Initial figures point to widespread power outages exceeding half a million customers at the height of the storm, extensive damage to roofs and public buildings, blocked roadways from downed trees and poles, and flooded communities where some homes were submerged to roof level. The confirmed regional death toll has climbed into the dozens; Jamaica’s official count remains provisional as authorities complete searches and verify reports.

Key priorities on the island now include:

• Restoring electricity and potable water to affected parishes.

• Reopening primary roads and bridges to speed emergency deliveries.

• Supporting shelters that housed thousands of residents through the storm and in its immediate aftermath.

• Rapid damage assessment for schools, clinics, and tourism infrastructure.

Airports, tourism, and travel: what’s open now

• Sangster International (MBJ), Montego Bay: The airport sustained notable roof and water damage. Relief and limited operations have resumed, with commercial schedules ramping up gradually; expect rolling cancellations and delays as airlines reposition aircraft and crews and as terminal fixes continue.

• Norman Manley International (KIN), Kingston: Commercial flights have restarted on a limited basis; check status frequently as demand, crew duty limits, and slot control create bottlenecks.

• Ian Fleming International (OCJ), St Mary: Smaller-scale operations have reopened.

Travelers should:

1. Confirm flight status directly with the airline before heading to the airport; 2) Build in long queues and document checks; 3) Expect schedule changes for at least several days; 4) Keep lodging flexible—some resorts are open with reduced services, others are cleaning and repairing.

Will Hurricane Melissa hit the UK?

No. Melissa is no longer a hurricane and is speeding into the open North Atlantic. While mid-latitude weather systems can absorb the remnants and later send ordinary Atlantic low pressure toward Europe, a direct UK “hurricane hit” is not in play. Any UK effect—if it materializes—would be indirect, in the form of run-of-the-mill wind and rain from a standard North Atlantic low well after this weekend, with confidence decreasing over time.

Time and weather basics for Jamaica

• Local time: Jamaica observes UTC-5 year-round (no daylight saving). In late October–early November, Jamaica time is typically one hour behind New York (which shifts off daylight saving on the first Sunday in November).

• Season context: The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1–November 30. Late-season majors, while uncommon, can occur when Caribbean waters remain very warm and upper-level winds briefly relax—conditions that aligned for Melissa.

Live cams and on-the-ground views

Many coastal cameras were knocked offline during landfall. As power and connectivity return, expect more live feeds from Montego Bay, Negril, Black River, and Kingston to come back over the next several days. Treat any on-scene visuals as snapshots; not all neighborhoods recover at the same pace.

Jamaica hurricane FAQs right now

Where is Hurricane Melissa now?
Over the open North Atlantic as a post-tropical low, moving away from the Caribbean and losing strength.

Is Jamaica still under threat from Melissa?
No further tropical impacts from Melissa are expected. Secondary hazards—debris, unstable structures, contaminated water, and flooded roads—remain serious.

What about Cuba, Haiti, the Bahamas, and Bermuda?
All saw significant to severe impacts as the core and outer bands passed. The storm’s post-tropical stage is bringing a final burst of wind/rain over open water and into higher latitudes, with intensity fading.

When will Montego Bay fully reopen?
Airfield access has returned, but terminal repairs and airline logistics mean a staggered restart. Check airline alerts daily; recovery of full schedules is a process, not a moment.

48-hour recovery snapshot for Jamaica

• Power: Crews continue phased restoration, prioritizing hospitals, water plants, and dense urban feeders before rural laterals.

• Roads: Main corridors are reopening; expect alternating one-lane traffic and temporary closures for debris removal and washout repairs.

• Airports: Limited commercial ops at KIN and MBJ; OCJ open for smaller carriers and charters.

• Aid & logistics: Relief flights and maritime shipments are moving; distribution hinges on road clearance and staging sites in the southwest.

What to watch next

• Updated official damage and casualty totals as verification proceeds.

• Water and sewage service restoration in flood-affected parishes.

• Tourism updates from major corridors (Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril) and Sangster International’s operational capacity.

• Post-tropical evolution of Melissa in the North Atlantic—useful only for marine interests and transatlantic aviation routing, not for Caribbean threat.

This is a fast-moving recovery story. Recent updates indicate that Melissa’s direct danger to Jamaica has passed, while the scale of damage remains significant. Expect numbers and timelines to adjust as assessments widen and essential services return.