Hurricane Melissa strengthens to Category 5, threatening catastrophic impact on Jamaica and Cuba

Hurricane Melissa intensified into a Category 5 storm on Monday, bearing down on Jamaica where forecasters anticipate a catastrophic landfall early Tuesday morning. The storm, described by officials as having the ingredients for a "catastrophic storm," is expected to unleash life-threatening flash flooding, numerous landslides, and widespread damage across the island.

If Melissa makes landfall at its current strength, it would be the strongest hurricane recorded in Jamaica since record-keeping began in 1851. Forecasters noted the storm is currently the third Category 5 hurricane of the 2025 season, sustaining winds of up to 260 km/h (161 mph).

Melissa is locked onto a path that is certain to strike Jamaica and Cuba, and possibly the Bahamas, over the next few days. The storm is currently executing a "painstakingly slow turn" toward the southern coast of Jamaica, crawling at a speed of approximately 6 km/h.

This slow pace is expected to deliver punishing rainfall, with forecasters predicting totals measured in feet rather than inches, significantly increasing the risk of flooding and landslides. The storm's 11-mile-wide eye is encircled by its most ferocious winds, which are already buffeting the south coast and inland areas of Jamaica.

Officials have warned residents in Jamaica not to venture outside from Monday through Tuesday due to the expected "catastrophic level hazards," which include storm surges, flooding, and landslides. Torrential rainfall is also expected to continue across Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba as the storm edges closer to the islands. Forecasters noted the storm is not expected to affect the United States.

At least six deaths in the northern Caribbean have already been attributed to the storm as it approached Jamaica. Reports indicate two fatalities occurred in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness stated he was "on my knees in prayer" as the country prepared for the intense hardship. Residents in the capital, Kingston, reported boarding up windows and stocking up on non-perishable goods like canned corned beef and mackerel, along with candles and flashlights.

Experts in climate risks noted that Melissa is a stark example of potential future impacts for other countries, citing that climate change is fueling stronger storms with higher rainfall totals.