Hurricane Melissa is currently impacting Jamaica as a powerful Category 5 storm, with ongoing updates showing its center near Jamaica and continuing dangerous winds, rain, and storm surge across the island as of late October 2025.
Overview of the latest status
- Location and movement: Melissa is tracking toward Jamaica, with the center several tens of miles offshore or near the southern coastline, moving slowly enough to prolong damaging winds and rainfall over affected areas.
- Intensity: The system has maintained extreme sustained winds (around 175–185 mph) and continues to be categorized as a Category 5 hurricane on arrival to Jamaica, making it one of the strongest storms in recent years.
- Impacts expected: Catastrophic winds, life-threatening storm surge, torrential rainfall, and widespread flooding and landslides are reported or warned for Jamaica, with danger extending to neighboring regions depending on the storm’s track and speed. Rescue and relief preparations have been activated by Jamaican authorities.
What to know if you’re in the region
- Stay sheltering in a secure, interior location away from windows; follow official guidance from national authorities and emergency management agencies.
- Prepare for extended power outages, communication disruptions, and possible floods or landslides in vulnerable terrain. Keep a disaster kit and a plan for family reunification and transportation out of affected zones if advised.
- Monitor reliable, official sources for the latest track, watch, and warning updates, as the forecast can change with changing environment and storm motion.
If you want, I can pull the very latest official advisories from the National Hurricane Center and regional meteorological services, or summarize specific local impacts (e.g., rainfall totals, wind gusts, storm surge forecasts) for a particular parish or resort area.
