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Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica causing life-threatening flooding and catastrophic winds
Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Tuesday morning in southwestern Jamaica close to New Hope with 185 mph winds as a Class 5 storm. The storm marks the third most intense hurricane within the Atlantic on document and forecast to carry catastrophic injury to Jamaica. FOX Climate Correspondent Robert Ray stories dwell from Jamaica.
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Hurricane Melissa made its catastrophic landfall alongside the southwestern coast of Jamaica on Tuesday afternoon, lashing the Caribbean island nation with damaging winds, torrential rain and storm surge.
Life-threatening flooding and storm surge is ongoing in western Jamaica as thousands and thousands of residents pray for security whereas remaining sheltered in place.
Based on the Nationwide Hurricane Heart (NHC), landfall occurred at 1 p.m. ET close to New Hope, Jamaica, as a Class 5 hurricane with winds of 185 mph. Since landfall, Melissa’s wind speeds have dropped to 160 mph and the attention of the storm is anticipated to proceed to move over western Jamaica over the subsequent a number of hours.
This graphic exhibits particulars on Hurricane Melissa’s landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025.
(FOX Climate)
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After landfall, the Nationwide Hurricane Heart (NHC) warned individuals to not go away their shelters even when it appears calm exterior as the attention passes over.
“Don’t go away your shelter as the attention passes over, as winds will quickly improve on the opposite aspect of the attention,” the NHC mentioned. “Residents shouldn’t go away their shelter and will stay in place via the passage of those life-threatening circumstances.”
Not removed from landfall in Black River, excessive winds from Melissa are inflicting injury, peeling off roofs and sending particles flying. The NHC mentioned catastrophic winds, flash flooding and storm surge was ongoing throughout elements of Jamaica.
Footage shot on Tuesday exhibits highly effective winds from Hurricane Melissa sturdy sufficient to peel again roofs from houses in Black River, Jamaica. The Class 5 hurricane made landfall about 12 miles northwest of Black River.
For the second day in a row, a NOAA Hurricane Hunter plane was compelled to abort its mission from inside Hurricane Melissa on account of excessive turbulence.
“In the course of the occasion, the plane briefly skilled forces stronger than regular on account of turbulence,” officials said. “Whereas this doesn’t robotically point out injury, commonplace security procedures require an inspection earlier than returning to operations.”
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Youngsters collect on the Financial institution of Jamaica’s automobile park on the Waterfront in Kingston on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with probably lethal rains after quickly intensifying right into a top-level Class 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what may very well be the island’s most violent climate on document. Melissa has already been blamed for at the very least 4 deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on elements of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. (Photograph by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photograph by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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Individuals sit in a shelter at Holy Household Main College in Kingston on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with probably lethal rains after quickly intensifying right into a top-level Class 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what may very well be the island’s most violent climate on document. Melissa has already been blamed for at the very least 4 deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on elements of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. (Photograph by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photograph by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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Waves crash onto the seashore in Kingston on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with probably lethal rains after quickly intensifying right into a top-level Class 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what may very well be the island’s most violent climate on document. Melissa has already been blamed for at the very least 4 deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on elements of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. (Photograph by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photograph by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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A person watches the waves crash into the partitions on the Kingston Waterfront on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with probably lethal rains after quickly intensifying right into a top-level Class 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what may very well be the island’s most violent climate on document. Melissa has already been blamed for at the very least 4 deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on elements of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. (Photograph by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photograph by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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A person makes an attempt to safe the roof of his house forward of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa strengthened Monday because it took purpose at Jamaica and different elements of the Caribbean as a top-level Class 5 storm, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to hunt shelter instantly. After passing over Jamaica, the storm was forecast to go north and cross over japanese Cuba on Tuesday night time, whereas persevering with to carry rain and heavy winds to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. (Photograph by AFP) (Photograph by STRINGER/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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A person covers the home windows of his house with corrugated iron forward of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa strengthened Monday because it took purpose at Jamaica and different elements of the Caribbean as a top-level Class 5 storm, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to hunt shelter instantly. After passing over Jamaica, the storm was forecast to go north and cross over japanese Cuba on Tuesday night time, whereas persevering with to carry rain and heavy winds to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. (Photograph by AFP) (Photograph by STRINGER/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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A person makes an attempt to safe the roof of his house forward of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa strengthened Monday because it took purpose at Jamaica and different elements of the Caribbean as a top-level Class 5 storm, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to hunt shelter instantly. After passing over Jamaica, the storm was forecast to go north and cross over japanese Cuba on Tuesday night time, whereas persevering with to carry rain and heavy winds to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. (Photograph by AFP) (Photograph by STRINGER/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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A person makes use of his cellphone on the waterfront in Kingston on October 27, 2025. Hurricane Melissa threatened Jamaica with probably lethal rains after quickly intensifying right into a top-level Class 5 storm, as residents scrambled for shelter from what may very well be the island’s most violent climate on document. Melissa has already been blamed for at the very least 4 deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and was set to unleash torrential rains on elements of Jamaica in a direct hit on the Caribbean island. (Photograph by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photograph by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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A motorist drives alongside flooded Michael Manley Boulevard in Kingston, Jamaica, as Jamaica begins to really feel the consequences of Hurricane Mellisa on October 26, 2025. Hurricane Melissa, already a serious class 4 storm, gathered steam Sunday because it took purpose at Jamaica and different elements of the Caribbean, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to hunt shelter instantly. (Photograph by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photograph by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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A fallen Jamaica Public Service Firm mild pole is seen on the Sugar Man’s seashore principal street in Hellshire, St Catherine parish, close to Portmore, as Jamaica begins to really feel the consequences of Hurricane Mellisa on October 26, 2025. Hurricane Melissa, already a serious class 4 storm, gathered steam Sunday because it took purpose at Jamaica and different elements of the Caribbean, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to hunt shelter instantly. (Photograph by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photograph by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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A coconut tree sways within the wind on the Kingston Waterfront on Ocean Boulevard in Kingston, Jamaica, as Jamaica begins to really feel the consequences of Hurricane Mellisa on October 26, 2025. Hurricane Melissa was slicing a lethal path within the Caribbean on the night time of October 25, with speedy intensification anticipated over the weekend because it took a worryingly gradual course towards Jamaica and the island of Hispaniola, forecasters mentioned. (Photograph by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photograph by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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A bicycle owner rides as much as a retailer to hunt shelter from Hurricane Mellisa in Portmore on October 26, 2025. Hurricane Melissa was slicing a lethal path within the Caribbean on the night time of October 25, with speedy intensification anticipated over the weekend because it took a worryingly gradual course towards Jamaica and the island of Hispaniola, forecasters mentioned. (Photograph by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photograph by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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For days, Jamaica’s authorities has been warning its residents and guests to make preparations forward of the monster storm’s landfall, and other people have been dashing to refill on meals and water to maintain them via what is going to seemingly be long-duration energy and communication outages because of the storm’s ferocious impacts.
Forward of landfall, about 35% of the island was with out energy.
Nonetheless, fears are rising that the Class 5 hurricane’s damaging 185-mph winds could also be too sturdy for buildings to deal with, and officers are warning that these winds will seemingly result in “whole structural failure” close to the trail of Melissa’s highly effective core.
Hurricane Melissa has been slowly spinning to the south of Jamaica, shifting erratically over the nice and cozy waters of the Caribbean. However now Melissa is interacting with a chilly entrance that pulled the storm to the north-northeast and northeast on a path that can seemingly slice via the center of the island.
The storm was lethal even earlier than landfall.
Video exhibits the highly effective winds from Class 5 Hurricane Melissa blasting Treasure Seashore, Jamaica about one hour earlier than landfall on Oct. 28, 2025.
“I’m very unhappy to say that over the previous few days in preparation of the storm, we’ve had three deaths,” Jamaica’s Minister of Well being and Wellness Dr. the Hon. Chrisopher Tufton, MP, said. “Three deaths linked to slicing down of bushes. And in a single occasion, electrocution due to or because of the slicing down of a tree.”
Accidents have additionally been reported, with Tufton saying most accidents had been on account of individuals falling from bushes or rooftops, automobile crashes and one one that was strolling via water and had “a nail penetrate their pores and skin.”
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A fallen Jamaica Public Service Firm mild pole is seen on the Sugar Man’s seashore principal street in Hellshire, St Catherine parish, close to Portmore, as Jamaica begins to really feel the consequences of Hurricane Mellisa on October 26, 2025. Hurricane Melissa, already a serious class 4 storm, gathered steam Sunday because it took purpose at Jamaica and different elements of the Caribbean, with forecasters predicting catastrophic flooding and urging residents to hunt shelter instantly. (Photograph by Ricardo Makyn / AFP) (Photograph by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
(Getty Pictures)
Most individuals throughout Jamaica have been looking for shelter inside sturdy buildings, however Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness mentioned shelter occupancy has been low in some parishes.
Officers mentioned there are greater than 800 shelters open for residents, with 382 occupied. Officers mentioned about 12,000 residents had been in shelters throughout the island by Tuesday.
“Jamaica, this isn’t the time to be courageous. I’ve been saying for per week, don’t wager towards Melissa,” mentioned Minister of Native Authorities and Neighborhood Growth Desmond Mckenzie.
Time rapidly ran out for individuals who had nonetheless not made it into shelters on Tuesday morning, as circumstances deteriorated quickly throughout Jamaica.
HURRICANE MELISSA IS THE THIRD CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE THIS SEASON, A FIRST IN 20 YEARS
FOX Climate Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross offers the most recent on the monstrous Hurricane Melissa, which is anticipated to carry winds over 170 MPH and as much as 30 inches of rain to Jamaica.
“Stay sheltered,” the Nationwide Hurricane Heart (NHC) said in its latest advisory. “Catastrophic flash flooding, landslides and damaging winds will proceed via in the present day, inflicting widespread infrastructure injury, energy and communication outages and remoted communities.”
And alongside the southern coast of Jamaica, a life-threatening storm surge and damaging waves lashing seashores are seemingly.
The NHC issued an ominous warning to residents of Jamaica in its newest forecast dialogue: “Failure to behave might lead to critical damage or lack of life.”
BRYAN NORCROSS: CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE MELISSA HEADING FOR JAMAICA’S SOUTH COAST
Hurricane Melissa might result in humanitarian disaster in Jamaica
The Nationwide Hurricane Heart issued a particular advisory on Tuesday morning and mentioned Hurricane Melissa is constant to accentuate on strategy to Jamaica. The monster storm now has winds of 180 mph, making it probably the most intense hurricanes on document. This is the most recent.
FOX Climate Correspondent Robert Ray has been on the bottom in Jamaica since final week and bought a firsthand take a look at what the federal government and residents had been doing to arrange for Hurricane Melissa.
He spoke with Jamaica’s Minister of Labor and Social Safety, Pearnel Charles, Jr., who mentioned the nation had been making each effort to avoid wasting lives forward of the storm’s worst impacts.
“We’ve requested individuals to not wait till it will get too tough to evacuate or prevent,” he mentioned. “If there may be ever a time to pay attention and to take motion, that is now.”
Ray and his staff on the bottom packed up and headed north later Monday and arrived in St. Ann Parish, the place they are going to stay as Hurricane Melissa slices throughout Jamaica.
“We had been chatting with locals (Monday night time), and the sensation is of utmost nervousness and nerves,” Ray mentioned on Tuesday morning. “Everybody is aware of that that is imminent and there may be going to be catastrophic eventualities throughout the island of Jamaica, and the preparations have been intense for the previous 72 hours or much more.”
And after the storm lets up, fears are rising that this might change into a catastrophe Jamaica has by no means seen earlier than.
“The federal government has been working diligently across the clock to open shelters and attempt to inform everybody right here on the island nation of Jamaica precisely what lies forward, which is historic and probably a humanitarian disaster. And that humanitarian disaster will come from the dearth of energy, the dearth of cell service, and the flexibility to not get provisions – water, meals and assist.”
What is the newest with Hurricane Melissa?
(FOX Climate)
As of the most recent forecast info from the NHC, Hurricane Melissa is packing most sustained winds of 160 mph – making it a catastrophic Class 5 hurricane.
On Tuesday morning, the strain inside Hurricane Melissa was measured at 892 millibars – stronger than Hurricane Katrina’s 902-millibar minimal central strain earlier than it made its catastrophic landfall alongside the U.S. Gulf Coast within the Southeast in August 2005.
Hurricane Melissa now ties for the No. 3 spot on the all-time most intense hurricanes on document within the Atlantic basin. The storm that is still within the prime spot is Hurricane Wilma in 2005, which had a strain measuring 882 millibars.
Melissa is the primary landfall of a Class 5 hurricane since Hurricane Dorian struck the northwestern Bahamas on Sept. 1, 2019.
Hurricane Melissa is presently positioned about 15 miles to the south-southwest of Montego Bay, Jamaica, and is shifting off to the north-northeast at 8 mph.
A flip to the northeast with a rise in ahead velocity is anticipated later Tuesday, adopted by a quicker northeastward movement on Wednesday and Thursday.
(FOX Climate)
On that forecast monitor, the NHC mentioned the middle of Melissa will seemingly transfer over Jamaica on Tuesday, throughout southeastern Cuba on Wednesday morning, and throughout the southeastern or central Bahamas later Wednesday.
Hurricane Warnings stay in impact for Jamaica, parts of japanese Cuba and the southeastern and central Bahamas.