Record-Breaking Hurricane Melissa threatens Jamaica with Catastrophic Impact
Kingston, Jamaica - Hurricane Melissa has intensified to a Category 5 storm, the highest level on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds reaching 74 meters per second, making it the most powerful storm detected globally in 2025, according to CNN.The hurricane is forecast to make landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, prompting urgent warnings of catastrophic destruction from jamaican authorities.
Melissa’s strength far surpasses the threshold for a hurricane,which is defined as sustained winds of 30 meters per second. Recent storms, like Norway’s storm Amy, have recorded peak sustained winds of 33.7 meters per second, significantly lower than Melissa’s current intensity. Researchers attempting to gather data from within the storm were forced to cancel a flight Monday due to unusually strong turbulence at the hurricane’s eye.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness stated, “There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand category 5. The question is how long it will take to recover afterwards. That is the challenge.”
Meteorologists predict extreme winds,torrential rainfall,and widespread devastation across the island nation. Storm surges of up to 4 meters are anticipated in Kingston, and eastern Jamaica could receive up to 76 centimeters of rainfall. Melissa has already been linked to four fatalities in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
The storm is expected to continue its path towards Cuba late Tuesday and the Bahamas late Wednesday.If Melissa maintains its intensity, it could become the most powerful hurricane to impact Jamaica since record-keeping began in 1851. Residents are bracing for catastrophic flooding,landslides,and notable damage to infrastructure.
