Hurricane Melissa was an exceptionally powerful Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in Jamaica and Cuba in late October 2025, causing catastrophic damage. It was the strongest Atlantic hurricane of the 2025 season and one of the most intense ever recorded.
Hurricane Melissa – Current Location Status
Follow the guidelines from NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER and CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER
Hurricane Melissa is currently a Category 2 storm moving over the Bahamas. It is accelerating northeast into the Atlantic.
— NYC Emergency Management (@nycemergencymgt) October 29, 2025
NYC may see some increased wave activity late Friday morning into early afternoon. No major impacts or hazards posed to NYC related to Hurricane Melissa are… pic.twitter.com/T4eYDRPTkV
The infamous Hurricane Hunters just had one of the wildest flights in history today.
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) October 29, 2025
Flying straight into the heart of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, a Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules aircraft, call sign TEAL 75, was slammed by violent turbulence
The G-forces were so extreme… pic.twitter.com/n7PmgSBeTA
Storm chronology
- Formation: The storm began as a tropical wave off the coast of West Africa in mid-October. It intensified into Tropical Storm Melissa on October 21.
- Intensification: After meandering for several days, Melissa underwent extreme rapid intensification, becoming a Category 4 hurricane on October 26 and a rare Category 5 by October 27, with sustained winds reaching 185 mph.
- Jamaica landfall: On Tuesday, October 28, Melissa made landfall on the southern coast of Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane, the strongest storm in the island’s history.
- Cuba landfall: After crossing Jamaica, the storm made landfall in eastern Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday, October 29.
- Continued path: As of late October 29, the storm was moving northeast toward the Bahamas and Bermuda.
Red Cross Movement responds in the Caribbean as dangerous Hurricane Melissa threatens islands with catastrophic damage https://t.co/v7UG337vtW
— National Pediatric Disaster Coalition (NPDC) (@npdcoalition) October 29, 2025
Impacts and damage
Jamaica: The storm left much of the island without power or phone service. Widespread flooding, landslides, and wind damage destroyed infrastructure and homes. Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the country a disaster area
Cuba: The government evacuated more than 700,000 people ahead of the storm. Reports indicated catastrophic damage in the eastern part of the country.
Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic): The outer bands of the hurricane caused torrential downpours, leading to floods and fatalities. At least 25 people were killed in Haiti, and at least one died in the Dominican Republic.
Wider effects: The storm’s power has prompted Caribbean leaders to call on wealthy, high-polluting nations for aid and debt relief. International aid efforts are underway to assist the affected regions.
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