Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm on Tuesday. Image by NOAA
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm on Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center reported.
The eye of Melissa was situated about 40 miles southeast of Negril, Jamaica, and about 235 miles southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba, the National Hurricane Center said in its 11 a.m. EDT update. It slightly picked up speed, moving north-northeast at 9 mph.
Melissa’s maximum sustained winds were 185 mph. Hurricanes are designated as the highest class when they reach 157 mph.
The storm’s central pressure had also hit 892 millibars, producing a more powerful storm. It’s rare for a hurricane to dip below 900 millibars, according to Phil Klotzbach, a senior hurricane researcher at Colorado State University.
Only six have been recorded in the Atlantic Basin — Wilma in 2005 (882 mb), Gilbert in 1988 (888 mb), Melissa in 2025 (892 mb), Milton in 2024 (895 mb), Rita in 2005 (895 mb) and Allen in 1980 (899 mb).
When Melissa makes landfall as a powerful major hurricane, it will be the strongest direct hit for Jamaica since records have been kept in the Atlantic Basin. It will also be the first storm to make landfall in the Caribbean this season.
On Tuesday night or Wednesday, Melissa is anticipated to make a second landfall along Cuba’s southeastern coast, while still wielding major hurricane strength. It’s also expected to remain a hurricane when it reaches the Bahamas. Bermuda also could be threatened.
“A turn toward the northeast with an increase in forward speed is expected later today, followed by a faster northeastward motion on Wednesday and Thursday,” the NHC said in its forecast discussion.
Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides in parts of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica were expected through early next week.
A hurricane warning was in effect for all of Jamaica; the Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo and Holguin; and the southeastern and central Bahamas.
Hurricane watches were in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
There was a tropical storm warning for Haiti and the Cuban province of Las Tunas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Hurricane-force winds extended up to 30 miles from the center, and tropical-force winds tended outward to 195 miles.
Rainfall of 15 to 30 inches through Wednesday was forecast for portions of Jamaica and an additional 6 to 12 inches for southern Hispaniola, which includes Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, with a local maximum of 40 inches, the NHC said.
“Catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides are likely,” NHC said.
Cuba is expected to receive rainfall of 10 to 20 inches, with local amounts up to 25 inches, into Wednesday, “resulting in life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding with numerous landslides,” NHC said.
Over the southeastern Bahamas, rainfall is forecast to total 5 to 10 inches into Wednesday with flash flooding in some areas.
Life-threatening storm surge heights could reach 9 to 13 feet above ground level, near and to the east of where the center of Melissa makes landfall and are expected to be accompanied by large and destructive waves, NHC said.
Along the Cuban coast late Tuesday and Wednesday, there is a potential for significant storm surge of 7 to 11 feet.
And in the southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands, there is the possibility of storm surge of 4 to 6 feet.
Melissa is the 13th named storm of the season and fifth hurricane. The other Category 5 storms in the Atlantic have been Erin and Humberto.
In September 2019, Hurricane Dorian had maximum sustained winds of 185 mph and destroyed the Bahamas islands, including Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama, as a Category 5 storm.
The all-time highest sustained measure was Hurricane Allen at 190 mph in August 1980 over the Yucatan Peninsula but weakened to a Category 3 when it struck south Texas.
The most destructive Category 5 storm in the United States was Hurricane Andrew in August 1992, with $27.3 billion in damage. Hurricane Michael, also a Category 5 storm, struck the less populated Florida Panhandle in October 2018.
The United States is not threatened this time.
Hurricane Gilbert struck Jamaica in 1988 as a Category 3 storm. The island could be battered for several hours as the eyewall moves slowly.
