Hurricane Melissa devastates Jamaica as Category 5 storm heads toward Bermuda
When Hurricane Melissa slammed into Jamaica’s southwestern coast at midday on Sunday, October 26, 2025, with sustained winds of 185 miles per hour, it didn’t just break records—it shattered expectations. The storm, one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, turned entire neighborhoods into rivers, drowned hospitals, and left thousands stranded without power, water, or communication. By Monday morning, Saint Elizabeth Parish was still submerged, and Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport remained shuttered, trapping evacuees in a city that had no coherent plan to get them out. The human cost? Still being counted. The scale? Unfathomable.
When the Sky Fell: The Landfall That Shook the Caribbean
It wasn’t just the wind. It was the duration. Hurricane Melissa didn’t zip through Jamaica like most storms. It lingered. For more than 24 hours, tropical storm-force winds howled across the island, even after the eye had passed. Haley, a meteorologist with FOX Weather, described it as “a long duration event”—a chilling phrase that means residents had no safe hour, no moment to breathe. The storm’s peak intensity—185 mph winds—was recorded at landfall near Saint Elizabeth Parish, where video showed floodwaters rising past second-story windows, emergency responders wading through debris with flashlights, and a hospital’s emergency entrance blocked by a collapsed awning.Meanwhile, in Miami, NBC 6 South Florida’s meteorologist broke into live coverage with a raw, unscripted cry: “UNBELIEVABLE POWER. OH MY JESUS CHRIST.” The moment went viral—not because it was dramatic, but because it was real. This wasn’t a simulation. This wasn’t a model. This was a living nightmare.
Stranded, Silent, and Scared: The Human Toll in Montego Bay
A couple trapped in Montego Bay told Steven Morgan and Britta of FOX Weather they’d been told the convention center would be their refuge. “We were informed you’d be in this space,” the woman said, voice trembling. “But once it was time to evacuate… it just didn’t happen.”The convention center, meant to house hundreds, was overcrowded, under-resourced, and still without running water. No buses arrived. No food trucks came. The airport, the last hope for escape, closed at 3 p.m. on Sunday—just hours before the storm’s full fury hit. By Monday, over 1,200 travelers were still stuck in hotels, motels, and shelters, with no flights scheduled until at least Wednesday. “We’re waiting for them to clear up the airport,” the man added. “So they can get in there and help out.”
Behind the scenes, an unnamed Jamaican official told NBC 6 South Florida: “While I personally am in good shape, the rest of the country is in very dire straits.” That line, delivered quietly over a crackling phone line, became the defining soundbite of the disaster.
Relief in Name Only: The $1 Million Promise
A humanitarian organization—still unnamed in official reports—announced a $1 million matching fund for relief efforts. “Just what’s the top priority now that the storm has passed?” asked an NBC 6 South Florida reporter. The response? A pause. Then: “Clean water. Medical triage. Roads. Without those, everything else is noise.”But $1 million? For a country where entire towns are underwater, hospitals are nonfunctional, and 80% of the power grid is down? It’s a start. But it’s not enough. The Red Cross, UN OCHA, and Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) have all mobilized—but logistics are a nightmare. Roads are washed out. Helicopters are grounded by lingering winds. And the clock is ticking: without clean water, disease will spread faster than the storm ever did.
Florida’s Warning: The Storm That Never Left
Even as Hurricane Melissa moved toward Cuba and then the Bahamas, its remnants soaked Florida’s coastal waters with torrential rain and dangerous rip currents. FOX Weather warned that “millions across the country” had been pummeled by the system all week—not from wind, but from the lingering moisture drawn from the storm’s vast circulation. Surf conditions along the Atlantic coast from Miami to Jacksonville reached 15-foot waves, prompting multiple rescues and beach closures.And now, the next chapter: Bermuda. The island, still recovering from 2024’s Hurricane Rafael, is bracing for a direct hit on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Forecasters say winds could reach 120 mph. Schools are closing. Emergency shelters are being prepped. And the same question echoes from Kingston to Hamilton: How many more storms can we take?
Why This Storm Is Historic—And What Comes Next
Meteorologists now rank Hurricane Melissa among the top five strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, tied with 1988’s Gilbert and just below 1980’s Allen. What made it worse? Rapid intensification. The storm jumped from Category 1 to Category 5 in under 18 hours—a phenomenon climate scientists say is becoming more common as ocean temperatures rise above 86°F. Jamaica’s coastline, already weakened by erosion and unchecked development, offered little resistance.Recovery will take years. But the immediate challenge? Surviving the next 72 hours. With fuel shortages, no functioning ATMs, and hospitals running on backup generators, the real crisis has only just begun.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will it take to restore power and water in Jamaica?
Officials estimate full power restoration could take 4 to 6 weeks, especially in rural areas like Saint Elizabeth Parish. Water systems are contaminated across 14 parishes, and bottled water deliveries are limited by damaged roads. The Jamaican government has requested international engineering teams to prioritize grid repair, but logistical delays are expected.
Why wasn’t there a better evacuation plan in Montego Bay?
Jamaica’s emergency protocols rely heavily on voluntary compliance and local coordination. With Melissa intensifying so rapidly, officials had only 12 hours to issue warnings. The convention center was designated last-minute, and transport resources were insufficient. Many residents didn’t believe the storm would be this bad—until it was too late.
What’s the risk to Bermuda, and how is it preparing?
Bermuda faces a direct hit from Melissa’s outer bands on Tuesday, October 28, with potential Category 2 conditions. The government has closed all schools, activated emergency shelters, and mandated that residents stockpile 72 hours of supplies. The island’s infrastructure, still fragile after 2024’s Rafael, has been reinforced—but power grids remain vulnerable to sustained high winds.
Is this storm linked to climate change?
Yes. Ocean surface temperatures in the Caribbean reached 87.6°F this month—nearly 2°F above the 30-year average. That extra heat fuels rapid intensification, as seen with Melissa’s jump from 85 mph to 185 mph in under a day. Scientists at NOAA and the UK Met Office confirm such rapid strengthening events are now 30% more likely than in the 1980s.
What can people do to help?
Donations to verified organizations like the Red Cross, CDEMA, or UNICEF are the most effective. Cash donations allow responders to buy exactly what’s needed—water filters, generators, medicine—rather than unused supplies. Avoid sending physical goods unless requested; they overwhelm ports and delay critical aid.
Will Florida face direct hurricane impacts next?
Melissa is expected to weaken over the Atlantic and become a post-tropical system by Thursday, October 30, but its moisture will feed new storm systems. Florida’s hurricane season runs through November, and the current pattern suggests another system could develop by mid-November. Residents are being urged to review emergency plans now.
About Author
Hi, I'm Kieran Lockwood, a sports enthusiast with a particular passion for soccer. I love sharing my insights and opinions on the latest matches, players, and tactics. In addition to my love for the game, I also enjoy writing about TV shows, analyzing their plots and characters. My ultimate goal is to combine my two passions and become a renowned sports and entertainment writer, offering fresh perspectives on the world of soccer and television.
